Behrouz Gharibpour

Iranian theatre director

Behrouz Gharibpour

Born	1950 Sanandaj, Iran
Occupation	Theatre director

Behrouz Gharibpour (Persian: بهروز غریب‌پور) (born 1950 in Sanandaj) is an Iranian theatre director and pioneer of traditional Persian puppet theatre.^[1]

He studied theatre at Tehran University and at Dramatic Arts Academy in Rome (Silvio D'Amico). He founded Tehran and Esfahan puppet theatre centres and changed Tehran's slaughterhouse into the greatest Iran's Cultural Centre. He has experienced in writing and directorship in fields such as theatre, puppet theatre, cinema, documentary movies, and T.V.^[2]

Gharibpour is known for his solid research works on the Iranian puppetry as was commonly practiced during Qajar era. He was the president of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (International Puppetry Association).^[3]^[4]

Notable works

The script of Davandeh (Runner)
"Les Misérables" of Victor Hugo
Rostam and Sohrab puppet opera

Ashura marionette opera. As the first celestial opera and marionette opera in Islamic World. Rumi based on a philosophical story of a great mystic poet of the Islamic world. Hafez based on history and philosophical of one of the greatest Iranian poet.^[5] Sa, di Based on history and philosophical of One of the greatest Iranian poet.

Founder of first Iranianian permanent theatre for children and young adult (1979)
Founder of Bahman Cultural center (ex slaughter house)
Founder of Iranian Artists Forum (ex Army center)
Reviver of Iranian Opera and founder of Iranian marionette opera (2003): Rostam &Sohrab, Macbeth, Ashura, Rumi (Molawi)

Awards

The Hans Christian Andersen Award (2002)
Sierna d'Oro (Arrivano dal mare 2008)

References

^ Rubin, Don (1998). The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Asia. Taylor & Francis. p. 268. ISBN 978-0-415-05933-6.
^ ‘Love’ puppet opera on stage in Tehran
^ Behrouz Gharibpour: Going Back to Move Forward
^ Gharibpour’s Puppets on Show For One Year
^ ‘Molavi’ puppet play may stage in US