Tentative Title: Brasch
Narges Hashempour
“Tentative Title: Brasch” tells of the last days of a totalitarian system and the inner struggles of its society. The story unfolds around Marion, youngest child of the East German Brasch family of functionaries and artists: her father was the GDR’s deputy minister of culture, and her brothers, Thomas, Peter and Klaus Brasch, became famous as writers, playwrights and actors. Marion Brasch witnessed the downfall of the system that had shaped her life up to that point. Now she is trying to find her own place in this world conflicting between father and brothers, generations and ideologies.
In a loose adaptation of the autobiographical novel “Ab jetzt ist Ruhe” by Marion Brasch, the Iranian authors Keyvan Sarreshteh and Zahra Mohseni, directed by Narges Hashempour, continue the story: while the text ostensibly follows the history of this East German family before the fall of the Berlin Wall, Sarreshteh uses this historical memory to reflect on her own Iranian origins as well as social and political contexts. Through the leaps and breaks in the narrative and on stage, Marion’s relationship with the important familial protagonists in her life is explored. At the same time, this principle and her role as narrator, witness, and silent citizen expose a perspective on the mechanisms of ideological power that are also embedded in the family, while also looking at society at large.
Duration: approx. 1 h 10 min
Language: Persian with German & English surtitles
Performance followed by an audience discussion with Marion Brasch, Narges Hashempour, and Keyvan Sarreshteh on 06.10. Duration ca. 30 min.
Narges Hashempour is an internationally renowned actress, director, author, curator and dramaturge who has realised countless theatre projects and participated in various festivals since 1991. She holds a doctorate in theatre studies and has received various awards as well as artistic and academic scholarships.
Keyvan Sarreshteh, born in Tehran in 1987, is an Iranian performer, playwright and director whose works mainly deal with memories, personal stories and power relations. His latest play, Timescape, premiered at the Vienna Festival 2023.
Zahra Mohseni, born 1998 in Tehran, is an Iranian playwright and theatre-maker. Her collaborations and solo plays have received wide acclaim in both student and professional contexts. She is currently working on bringing her internationally published play “Cooks” to the stage.
Concept, direction, artistic production: Narges Hashempour
Authors: Keyvan Sarreshteh, Zahra Mohseni
Cast: Asghar Piran, Farbod Farhang, Sina Balahang
Musik und Sounddesign: Kaveh Abedin
Set Designer: Manouchehr Shoja
Lighting Designer: Ruzhdi Aliji
Video Designer: Ali Kazemi Bayat Sofla
Assistant director and surtitles: Mohammadmehran Oshrieh
A co-production of HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts and the Akademie der Künste, Berlin.
