BLIND RUNNER, A Mehr Theatre Group production

Part of Under the Radar Festival, in partnership with St. Ann's Warehouse & Nimruz

WRITTED AND DIRECTED BY: Amir Reza Koohestani

Once a week, a husband comes to visit his captive wife who has been detained as a political prisoner in Tehran. Spied on by cameras and microphones, their conversations become increasingly distant, inhibiting their ability to share their daily lives. At his wife’s insistence, the husband agrees to train and guide a young blind woman through a Parisian footrace. As they come to learn more about each other, the unlikely couple grows close and finds a common rhythm. At the race’s end, they set upon a second challenge: can they run the Channel Tunnel to England, covering 38 kilometers in a few hours and avoiding being hit by the first train of the morning?

Alternating between the confines of prison and the racer’s unseen road, Blind Runner embraces a hypnotic rhythm scored by the musicality of the Persian language. Director Amir Reza Koohestani renders his signature stripped-down staging, augmented by video, letting the spectator’s gaze move freely from the performers’ bodies to their leviathan faces. A poetic vision gradually emerges of the human struggle, of mutual aid, of the marathon we run without freedom in sight.

Blind Runner is presented in Persian language with English supertitles. It is appropriate for audiences ages 12 and older.

THE UNSEEN IRAN FESTVIAL

In partnership with St. Ann's Warehouse, Nimruz, & Pardis for Children we are proud to announce “Unseen Iran: A Celebration of Iranian Art & Culture” alongside Blind Runner at St. Ann’s Warehouse.

This January, the beautiful and historic St. Ann’s lobby will transform into an Iranian hub, as we create a Persian Tea Room, featuring Persian tea and rugs. Prominent contemporary Iranian artists will turn the walls of St. Ann’s into a gallery of modern art, including pieces from the incredible “Book of Kings” series by Shirin Neshat, photos by Iranian street photographer Tahmineh Monzavi, as well as works by Behar Behbahani and the Safarani Sisters. 

This January 10-12th, a weekend festival of events will include a backgammon tournament, an Iranian food tasting, music performances, films, a dance party, and more with Blind Runner as the main event.  

Waterwell Co-Founder & Board Chair Arian Moayed explains:

These programs look to ask what today’s Iran and Iranian art look like, to make things visible that aren't normally, and to give expansive, nuanced, and modern views of Iranian culture. In the media, all we see is turmoil — but it's how people push through that turmoil that's miraculous. Here, we show how that’s being done through art, as artists brush against the rules and limits of their circumstances everyday.

While most festival events are free, they do require a ticket reservation for entry. Tickets to Blind Runner are sold separately and range from $44-$54. See below for the festival schedule.