Iran Saye Theatre Group Independent Theatre / Performance / Research / Publishing We believe art becomes independent the moment it refuses to be defined by any system. ABOUT SAYE THEATRE Founded in Tehran in 2001, Saye Theatre is an independent performance platform dedicated to contemporary theatre, choreography, artistic research, publishing, and experimental modes of performance. Over the past two decades, the group has continuously redefined its artistic practice in response to changing social and political conditions. Since 2018, Saye Theatre has developed its work outside Iran’s official theatre system, producing performances in abandoned buildings, rooftops, private houses, urban environments, and other unconventional spaces. Rather than treating theatre as a fixed discipline, the group approaches performance as a dialogue between body, architecture, memory, politics, movement, and spectatorship. Alongside performances, Saye Theatre organizes workshops, seminars, publications, translation projects, and artistic exchanges that connect Iranian artists with international contemporary performance practices. The group’s works have been presented in theatres, festivals, universities and independent art spaces across Europe, North America, Australia and the Middle East. OUR PRACTICE Independent Theatre Performance Research Site-Responsive Performance Choreographic Performance Durational Performance Experimental Dramaturgy Collective Creation Performance Art Publishing & Translation Workshops & Education International Collaboration ARTISTIC EVOLUTION 2001–2012 Building an international theatre language. 2013–2019 Touring and refining a minimalist performance practice. 2020–2023 Theatre as resistance: underground, durational and site-responsive works. 2024–Present Theatre as research, archive and international collaboration. SELECTED PROJECTS The Silent House (2018–2022) A minimalist performance about displacement, waiting and identity. Presented at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Off Avignon, Adelaide Fringe and many other international venues. Base Camp (2022–2023) Site-responsive adaptation of Sarah Kane’s Cleansed, created in an abandoned school in Tehran during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Headlock (2025) Adaptation of Ruby Rae Spiegel’s Dry Land that merges theatre and wrestling to explore the bodies and struggles of young Iranian female wrestlers. The Unburied (2024–ongoing) An open-ended international performance project created by Sara Rasoulinejad in collaboration with Juliana Francis Kelly. Developed between Tehran and New York. Jérôme Bel – Tehran (2025) Participatory score-based project developed as part of the international circulation of Jérôme Bel’s practice. AWARDS (Selected) Best Show – Newcastle International Theatre Festival, Australia (2024) Best Show – FIAT International Alternative Theatre Festival, Montenegro (2022) Best Performance – Forum International Theatre Festival, Lithuania (2011) Audience Award – HIGH FEST, Armenia (2008) RESEARCH & PUBLISHING Saye Theatre has established two independent research platforms: the Performance Studies Center (2023) and the Dance Studies Center (2024). The group has translated and published several key books on contemporary theatre (including works on Romeo Castellucci, Thomas Ostermeier, Erika Fischer-Lichte and Reza Abdoh) and is a founding board member of the International Alliance of Independent Theatre (IAIT). INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE Since 2008, Saye Theatre has presented work at more than 35 international festivals and venues in 17 countries across Europe, North America and Australia. For the complete list of international presentations, visit our Touring History. Contact Website: sayetheatre.com Instagram: @saye_theatre Email: sayetheatre@gmail.com
