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Wajdi Mouawad’s ‘Incendies’ on stage at City Theater

The 2003 play by Lebanese-Canadian writer Wajdi Mouawad titled ‘Incendies’ is on stage at the City Theater in Tehran, directed by Morteza Mirmontazami. The play follows the journey of twins Jeanne and Simon as they attempt to unravel the mystery of their mother’s life.

By Morteza Mirmontazami·Aug 5·tehrantimes.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

Wajdi Mouawad’s ‘Incendies’ on stage at City Theater
Image: tehrantimes.com

The play ‘Incendies’ by Wajdi Mouawad is now on stage at the City Theater in Tehran, directed by Morteza Mirmontazami. The story revolves around twins Jeanne and Simon as they try to uncover the truth about their mother’s life.

Why it matters

The play ‘Incendies’ is a significant cultural event in Iran, showcasing the work of Lebanese-Canadian writer Wajdi Mouawad and exploring themes of identity and family.

The play ‘Incendies’ is about two twins, Jeanne and Simon, who try to figure out their mom’s life. They go on a journey to find out the truth about their family and their past. It’s a story about identity, family, and how people can be connected across different cultures and countries.

Analysis

A Play of Identity and Family

Wajdi Mouawad’s ‘Incendies’ is a thought-provoking play that delves into the complexities of identity and family. The story follows twins Jeanne and Simon as they embark on a journey to unravel the mystery of their mother’s life. Born in Lebanon in 1968, Mouawad was forced to leave his homeland at the age of eight due to the civil war. This marked the beginning of a period of exile that first took him and his family to Paris, and later to Quebec, where he pursued his studies and graduated in 1991 with a degree in acting from the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal.

The play has been produced all over the world, including the United States, Brazil, Austria, Germany, Mexico, Spain, and Australia. The 2007 production at the Tarragon Theater in Toronto won several awards, and the Vienna Burgtheater assigned Stefan Bachmann to the stage production, which subsequently received much praise from critics and won the ‘Nestroy Award’ in 2007.

‘Incendies’ was adapted into a 2010 film of the same title by Denis Villeneuve, starring Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, and Lubna Azabal. It was nominated for the 2011 Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category and won the Genie Award for Best Motion Picture at the 31st Genie Awards.

The play’s exploration of identity and family is deeply rooted in Mouawad’s own experiences as a refugee. His story is a testament to the power of art to transcend borders and cultures, and to the human spirit’s ability to persevere in the face of adversity.

Key points

  • The play ‘Incendies’ is now on stage at the City Theater in Tehran, directed by Morteza Mirmontazami.
  • The story follows twins Jeanne and Simon as they attempt to unravel the mystery of their mother’s life.
  • The play has been produced all over the world and has won several awards.
  • The play’s exploration of identity and family is deeply rooted in Wajdi Mouawad’s own experiences as a refugee.
The Upside

The production of ‘Incendies’ at the City Theater in Tehran is a positive development for Iranian culture, showcasing the work of a renowned international playwright and exploring themes that are relevant to Iranian society.

The Downside

The play’s exploration of identity and family may also highlight the challenges faced by refugees and immigrants, including the difficulties of adapting to a new culture and the pain of losing one’s homeland.

Originally reported at

tehrantimes.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsiranculturetheaterrefugeesidentityfamily

Author

Morteza Mirmontazami

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Aug 5, 2026

Source

tehrantimes.com

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Topics

iranculturetheaterrefugeesidentityfamily

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