Whispered Dreams (2026)
Whispered Dreams began as a series of letters and texts exchanged between Mona (a writer and actress based in Tehran) and Fariborz. They are close friends and members of the same collective that has been active in Tehran since 2011. Starting from these texts, they are revisiting their connection, friendship, and artistic collaboration, considering gender and lived experiences—Fariborz’ in Amsterdam and hers in Tehran . Due to the distance, their collaboration takes place remotely, which presents certain challenges in their creative process and performative setups. This distance is integral to the concept of the work, posing challenges, particularly in relation to audience interaction.
’Friendship’ and ‘Self-censorship’ are the central themes they explore in Whispered Dreams where they question different aspects of friendship and self-censorship as concepts and examine how to translate it into a physical space while engaging audience members.
CREDITS
Concept, Text, Direction and Performer Fariborz Karimi
Co-writer / Remote performer Mona Ahmadi
Alternative remote performer: Nazanin Mehraein
Dramaturgy Aria Baghestani
Light design Patsy Lassbo
Scenography and Costumes Lou Seidel
Composer Amirhossein Sadeghzadeh
Outside eye: Keerthi Basavarajaiah,
Artistic Advisors Rajni Shah , Thanks to Setareh Fatehi
Production manager Wafa Al Attas
Technical coordinator Susana Vilchez
Supported by Het CultuurFonds, AFK, NORMA
Residency supports BUDA Kortrijk, HELLERAU, wpZimmer, If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution, Campo, Het National Theater, Theater Rotterdam (Welcome to our guest house and trip space)
Co-Production Theater Rotterdam Productiehuis, 0090 platform
Work-in-Progress presentation at Theater Rotterdam, November 2024.
Work-in-Progress presentation at Dancing on the edge festival, November, Amsterdam, 2024.
Work-in-Progress presentation at 4bid Gallery, Amsterdam, October 2025.
Premiere: February 10th&11th 2026, Frascati Theater Amsterdam
Dates in 2026:
26th February, Theater Rotterdam
17th, 18th March, PILAR Brussels, co-presented by Kaai theater
20th, 21st March, Cement Festival, Den Bosch
28th, 29th March, Zaal3, The Hague
15th of May, Beyond the Black Box Festival, Antwerp
Reviews&Interviews
Theater Krant
De Groene Amsterdammer
Het Parool
