A large-scale cinematic show combining shadow puppets with animations will tell an ancient Persian story at the Port Theatre next week.
Song of the North, an epic love story with a cast of 500 handmade puppets and nine actors and puppeteers, will be staged May 14.
The show is created by Hamid Rahmanian and is an adaptation of the Book of Kings (Shahnameh), which tells the tale of Manijeh, a heroine from ancient Persia, as she rescues Bijan and helps to prevent a war. The Shahnameh is an ancient collection of myths from the Iranian plateau.
The show is touring cities where audience members may not be familiar with Iranian culture, according to a news release about the show.
“As an American citizen, born in Iran, Rahmanian works to bridge gaps of understanding, and highlight shared ideals and values in the face of cultural vilification and official discrimination,” the news release said. “We strongly believe that striving toward equity, diversity, and inclusion are hallmarks of a thriving and robust society. Our work advocates for voices that have been historically misrepresented through work that is accessible for patrons of all ages, cultural backgrounds, economic groups, and physical ability.”
The production is put on by Kingorama, a project by Fictionville Studio and Two Chairs Studio out of New York. During the tour, the studio is collaborating with local institutions to create outreach programs for at-risk youths, English-as-second-language learners and kids with disabilities. It also hosts workshops about dance, puppetry and puppet making, as well as artist talks.
“Through the multi-sensory telling of this ancient myth and accompanying engagement programs, we aim to encourage audiences to feel a little less estranged from their neighbours and illuminate the values and similar experiences we all share,” the release said.
Throughout the 80-minute show, the actors interact and perform in front of animated backgrounds and behind a large screen. The news release describes the show as immersing the audience in a live animated adventure.
Song of the North will be at the Port Theatre on May 14. Tickets are $59, or $30 for students and can be purchased at http://porttheatre.com.
