‘Friendship’ is the central theme they explore in Whispered Dreams, where they question different aspects of friendship, self-censorship, distance, absence and presence as concepts and examine how to translate it into a physical space while engaging audience members. Whispered Dreams began as a long-term exchange of letters and texts between Mona (a writer and actress based in Tehran) and Fariborz. As close friends and members of the same arts collective active in Tehran since 2011, they return to their shared history, their friendship, and their artistic dialogue through this correspondence. Because they work at a distance, their collaboration entails specific challenges for both the creative process and the performative form. This distance is an essential part of the performance’s concept and introduces challenges, particularly in relation to the role of the audience in the space. Co-creation Fariborz Karimi, Mona Ahmadi, Aria Baghestani, Amirhossein Sadeghzadeh, Patsy Lassbo en Lou Seidel concept, text, direction and performance Fariborz Karimi co-writer and performer at distance Mona Ahmadi dramaturgy Aria Baghestani licht design Patsy Lassbo scenography and costume Lou Seidel sound designer Amirhossein Sadeghzadeh production manager Wafa Al Attas graphic design Parnaz Karimi outside eye Keerthi Basavarajaiah artistic advice Rajni Shah, Setareh Fatehi co-productions Theater Rotterdam productiehuis, Platform 0090, C-Takt supported by Het Cultuurfonds AFK, NORMA
