FARNAZ ARBABI

- stage director and playwright.
October 6

DROTTNING KRISTINA SUCCESS IN UPPSALA

The experimental piece DROTTNING KRISTINA opened at Uppsala Stadsteater on September 26th. The show is a result of a devisive work process where the actors and team have collaborated ideas and material. The Swedish press loved it, all except for Aftonbladet who wrote it off as a travesty, a speculative piece spreadingfalse rumours about Swedens queen Christina.

In the piece director Farnaz Arbabi deals with truth and documentary, with the concept of idolatry and copying originals, as well as gender and stigmatization. The piece can be seen as a contribution to the debate on copyright and sampling/sharing art, as well as an effort to problematize the concept of canon by introducing pop references as new classics, re-shaping history by using modern cultural connotations.

It’s a must see!

Tickets here!

Info at Uppsala Stadsteater’s webpage.

More pictures here.

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From DROTTNING KRISTINA at Uppsala Stadsteater. Photographer: Linus Meyer.

From DROTTNING KRISTINA at Uppsala Stadsteater. Photographer: Linus Meyer.

October 5
“ … föreställningen - eller showen - på Lilla scenen är späckad med finesser, infall, underbart dockspel och tvättäkta göteborgsvitsar levererade av en närmast sexfixerad och mycket liten drottning Kristina …. Och om en bal på slottet är dötrist och långtråkig så är ett party med Uppsala Stadsteaters Drottning Kristina alldeles, alldeles underbart. Astrid Claeson, UNT (2009-09-27)
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“ Stycket handlar om att vara en främling för utpräglad manlighet och underordnad kvinnlighet. Att vara dunkel, oupptäckt inför sig själv. Iscensättningen är en speciell, knäpp och samtida tolkning av kön, sedvanlighet och historia som genuskonservativ vetenskap där alla förväntas vara entydigt klassificeringsmöjliga. Lars Ring, SvD (2009-09-30)
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“ …varken hjärnan eller hjärtat kan värja sig när en av våra intressantaste unga regissörer och hennes genomgående magnifika ensemble skapar drottninglik dramatik. Maina Arvas, nummer.se (2009-09-30)
April 13

SPEECH ABOUT ARBABIS WORK IN SEATTLE

Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle gives a lecture series in tribute to Raoul Wallenberg’s humanitarian work. The Lecture Series aims to explore topics relevant to social justice and Scandinavian society. The theme for this year’s series is The Immigrant Experience in Scandinavia. One of the lectures will be about Farnaz Arbabi and her work with The Emigrants. For more information please contact Karen Hansen at The Nordic Heritage Museum: karenh@nordicmuseum.org

Rewriting the Promised Land

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

7pm-8:30pm

Ursula Lindqvist, Preceptor in Scandinavian, Harvard University

Dr. Lindqvist will discuss the innovative work of Iranian-born Swedish playwright and director Farnaz Arbabi, who in 2006 adapted Vilhelm Moberg’s classic novel series Utvandrarna [The Emigrants], Invandrarna [Unto a Good Land], Nybyggarna [Settlers], and Sista brevet till Sverige [Last Letter Home] (1949–1959), for the Swedish stage. Arbabi’s play rewrites Moberg’s epic tale of Swedes migrating to the American Midwest in the 19th century to feature Russian, Balkan, and Iranian emigrants who migrate to 21st- century Sweden, now one of the world’s wealthiest nation-states.

March 19

RAVING REVIEWS FOR THE CONSUL

Farnaz Arbabi made her opera debut directing The Consul by Gian Carlo Menotti, and recieved excellent review (see quotes below).  The opera will be playing until 5 April. For tickets and information please contact Folkoperan.

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From THE CONSUL at Folkoperan. Photographer: Mats Bäcker.

From THE CONSUL at Folkoperan. Photographer: Mats Bäcker.

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“ Farnaz Arbabis regi karakteriseras av det slags uppmärksamhet som också räknar med publikens. Till skillnad från många andra debuterande operaregissörer litar hon till musiken och ­librettot, lägger i stället väl avvägda accenter som varken utesluter patos eller komik. Det var länge sedan Folkoperan gav en sådan helgjuten iscensättning. Claes Wahlin, Aftonbladet (2009-02-26)
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“ Med lätt hand och fantasi opera­debuterar Farnaz Arbabi, efter succéer med bland annat Tjechovs ”Måsen” och Vilhelm Mobergs ”Utvandrarna”. Lekfullt tacklar hon detta grymma ämne och de bråda kasten mellan det lyriska, komiska och bottendjupt tragiska i Menottis opera. Martin Nyström, Dagens Nyheter (2009-02-27)
January 18

OPERA REHEARSALS IN STOCKHOLM

Rehearsals have started for THE CONSUL, premiere at Folkoperan in Stockholm 25 and 26 February.

For more information and tickets, please visit Folkoperan or join the Facebook group for continous updates.

January 7

TALK WITH MASTER STUDENTS IN GOTHENBURG

Farnaz Arbabi has been invited to The Academy of Music and Drama for a talk on the relationship between director and performer. This talk is exclusively for the performing arts students at the Master program, and will take place January 9th.

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TALK ABOUT THE SEAGULL

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January 8 - talk with Farnaz Arbabi and the cast of MÅSEN After the performance of MÅSEN (The Seagull) at Backa Teater there will be a talk about the work with the play and the production. Participants will be Farnaz Arbabi and the cast. Tickets for the show has to be booked in advance, please contact Backa Teater for more information. Entrance to the talk is free and no reservation is needed. For more information please contact Anneli Eriksson at Backa Teater: anneli.eriksson@stadsteatern.goteborg.se / +46 (0)31-7087167

January 8 - talk with Farnaz Arbabi and the cast of MÅSEN

After the performance of MÅSEN (The Seagull) at Backa Teater there will be a talk about the work with the play and the production. Participants will be Farnaz Arbabi and the cast. Tickets for the show has to be booked in advance, please contact Backa Teater for more information. Entrance to the talk is free and no reservation is needed.

For more information please contact Anneli Eriksson at Backa Teater: anneli.eriksson@stadsteatern.goteborg.se / +46 (0)31-7087167

December 7

FARNAZ ARBABI DIRECTS OPERA

FARNAZ ARBABI DIRECTS THE CONSUL BY MENOTTI

Opens 25 and 26 February 2009 at Folkoperan in Stockholm.

– The Consul is a very relevant story that deals with migration policy and how people become victims of the inhumane bureaucracy. This piece by Menotti is from 1950, but he decribes the endless waiting that many asylum seekers are forced through today, says Farnaz Arbabi.


- In a way it continues the work I did with The Emigrants in 2006. When compared, The Consul is crueller story that focuses more on the impacts of our European refugee policy. Menotti’s opera takes place in an unknown country and our version of the opera is set at a Swedish consulate with refugees coming from outside the European Union, says Farnaz Arbabi.


Music: Gian Carlo Menotti
Swedish text: Göran Gentele and Sixten Ehrling
Director: Farnaz Arbabi
Musical direction: Jonas Dominique
Conductors: Jonas Dominique/Joakim Unander
Set design and costumes: Jenny Kronberg
Light: Karl Svensson
Hair and make-up: Therésia Frisk

Cast:

Magda Sorel: Susanna Levonen/Mira Åkerman Pyne

John Sorel: Daniel Frank

The Mother: Karin Lovelius

Secret Police Agent: Johan Rydh

Secretary: Margaretha Westerlind/Ulrika Skarby

The Magician Nika Magadoff: Henrik Holmberg

Mr Kofner/Assan: Lars Martinsson

Anna Gomez: Miriam Ryen

Vera Boronel: Sandra Bundy

Foreign Woman: Milena Stricevic

The Consul will be playing Wednesdays and Thursdays 7pm, Saturdays 6pm and Sundays 4 pm until 5 April 2009.

The show is approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes, including intermission.


For pictures go to www.folkoperan.se/press/pressbilder/konsuln

For more information and interviews, please contact

Elenor Wolgers, 08-616 07 17, 0733-44 64 34,
elenor.wolgers@folkoperan.se

Frida Edoff, 08-616 07 18, 0709-50 53 52, frida.edoff@folkoperan.se