Cinderella Returned from Abroad

Directed by Mehdi Mehdi Abadi

With Maryam Akbari, Maryam Elha, Neda Haji, Parviz Haji Zadeh and Mehdi Farshidi Sepehr

“Cinderella Returned from Abroad” is a filmed theatre production rooted in Iranian traditional performance forms, with particular emphasis on Takht-e Howzi and Siah-Bazi. The work adopts a fantastical tone characteristic of these popular theatrical traditions and is designed for audiences aged five and above. The narrative is based on the well-known Cinderella tale, a story that has been retold across cultures in diverse forms—such as the Persian folktale Mah Pishooni. Portions of the dialogue and songs are performed in English, accompanied by simultaneous on-stage translation during the performance. Music plays a central role in the production and is performed live by the actors throughout the show. In addition to acting, the performers engage in live musicianship and vocal performance, integrating singing and instrumental music into the theatrical action.