The story of Marina Nemat, who was jailed as a teen when her homeland of Iran experienced its revolution in 1979, will unfold in dance on the Vic Juba Community Theatre stage.
Nemat, who deals with PTSD as a result of her ordeal, detailed her experience in the book Prisoner of Tehran. She spent over two years at the Evin prison in Tehran where she was beaten and faced the prospect of execution.
Jack Langenhuizen with MOTUS O Dance Theatre says the subject matter deals with what happened to 16-year old Nemat when she was imprisoned.
“Basically what we have here is someone who will never get over an experience like that so it’s quite deep. And Marina does have PTSD and she lets people know that. She is in her early 50s now and she has learned to cope with it along the journey.”
The co-artistic director and general manager of the theatre group says the one-hour show adapts the memoirs from the book with the dancers “moving around and through” the actor who plays Marina, as they create an “emotional landscape” to relate the drama.
Langenhuizen says the events that unfolded in Iran in the early 80s are taking place once again over the treatment of women and resulting protests related to wearing the hijab.
He adds there will be a Q&A after the presentation.
“What we liked particularly about working with Marina – when we first heard her memoirs and her speech, was her message of hope as opposed to this was something horrible that happened to me – everyone, feel sorry for me. She does not take that approach at all. She is quite a feisty woman – and it’s about getting involved in your local politics and making sure we maintain our democracy.”
The curtain will rise on the Prisoner of Tehran on Mar. 20 at the Vic Juba Community Theatre from 7:30 p.m.
