Hungarian director Zsofia Berczi to stage three plays at Fajr festival

Zsofia Berczi, a Hungarian writer, director and choreographer who is interested in Eastern culture and spirituality, is in Tehran to stage three plays during the 34th Fajr International Theater Festival.

In a press conference held at Tehran’s City Theater Complex on Friday, Berczi said that she is attending the festival for the first time.

She also elaborated on her play “Becoming a Butterfly – Conspiracy”, which is competing in the festival.



She called “Becoming a Butterfly – Conspiracy” a unique play that previously has been performed in some European countries.


She added that Western plays mostly center on daily life or politics, but the play is different.


“Becoming a Butterfly” explores the subjects of metamorphosis, evolution and development through dreamlike tales nested in each other. It also goes dramaturgically through the evolution of becoming a butterfly to fulfill the tree’s dream.


Pointing to her interest in Eastern culture and women’s costumes, she said that she discovered and interest in Oriental art and culture from watching the (Iranian-Tunisian) film “Bab’Aziz” by Tunisian director Nacer Khemir.


The 2005 film by the Tunisian director and Iranian cast is a visual poem of incomparable beauty, centering on Sufism. It tells the story of a blind dervish named Bab’Aziz and his spirited granddaughter, Ishtar.

Berczi will also stage “Living Surface” and another play at the Fajr festival.


Her credits also include “Octopus Tarot Labyrinth”, “Living Morphology”, “Morpholand”, “JiChing Labyrinth”, “Light Spheres”, “Wave Space” and “The Carpet”.