Fatemeh Dehnamak

May & June 2025

Iranian theatre and filmmaker Fatemeh Dehnamak was researching for her project "Rebellion" during her residency at HELLERAU. As director of the Nesyan Theatre Group, which focuses on the performative form of documentary theatre, Fatemeh wanted to explore and question the power dynamics in romantic love. These dynamics are shaped by a variety of forces: the legal and judicial system, patriarchal cultural norms and traditions, economic structures, the education system and gender socialisation, prevailing narratives about love and loyalty, social pressure and collective control, and - in an Islamic society such as Iran - Islam and prevailing interpretations of the Quran. With this project, Nesyan Theatre Group aims to define love from a feminist perspective and use performance as a critical tool to challenge dominant narratives of romantic love and propose new possibilities for connection and intimacy.

In co-operation with Theatertreffen Berlin and the Goethe Institut.

Biography

With a Bachelor's degree in Dramatic Literature from Soore University of Tehran and courses in filmmaking and documentary theatre, Fatemeh Dehnamak explores the untold stories of women, history and society in her work. As the director of the women-led Nesyan Theatre Group, she gives voice to overlooked issues. A dedicated storyteller, she explores real life stories and is currently working on her first feature film. At the age of 28, she is proud to have already made an impact as an Iranian artist.

Website