Moving towards scientific theatre

Seyed Javad Roshan: it’d possible to say that in recent years workshops and educational gathering became a permanent part of the festivals. This is very important and valuable event and hopefully would have lots of benefits for Iranian theater. Fadjr International Theater Festival has held professional seminars, scientific gatherings and workshops attended by Iranian and international professors. The outcomes of these seminars had been published as collection of articles. Unfortunately some of these valuable acts had not been welcomed by attendees.
At the time of 27th International theatre festival some valuable gatherings and workshops had been organized which not been attended by many people. But why are we encountering such situations? And what should be done to not have the same situation for the 28th festival? Are the chosen subjects not interesting for the attendees or the lecturers are not convenient? The conditions of the workshops are not comfortable or the attendees don’t have the motivations?
It’s obvious that such programs have their special audiences. Students, researchers and people who are truly enthusiastic about theater are among them. So expecting a big, public audience is wrong. But students and theater artists are expected to attend such events. There’s a rare possibility for an important dramaturge like “Mate e visnyek” to be present in Iran, but at the same time we could see the professors but not the students in that event.
The reasons why scientific workshops and gathering are not attended as expected could be concluded as below:
1-the uninteresting subjects of the seminars and workshops
2- The lack of proper information
3- Not using the proper professionals and professors
4- The inconveniency of the place and proper conditions
5- Inconvenient time and place

What had mentioned above were some of the possible reasons. It’s a fact that the outdated and uninteresting subjects would not be attended nor by artists neither by students.” Clown in theater” or “Theater in Latin America” are some of the subjects that could be more interesting and would give a new and fresh air to these gatherings. On the other hand organizing such events without proper advertising would do no good, so it’s essential that the related information appear in media and festival website in time. It’s also beneficial to pick famous Iranian or foreign lecturers for these kinds of events.
The different parts of the festival would need different facilities which are sometime more that Iranian theater’s budget, but it’s been always the organizer’s purpose to hold these events in places with good conditions. “Sangelaj Theater”, “Forum of Iranian Artists” or “City Theater Complex” are amongst the places which are preferable by attendees.
As the time of the event is affecting the rate of attendees, it’s been organized for the workshops to hold before the plays, so the people who are also interested in attending a play would not encounter a problem. 
One the very well attended workshops in several Fajr theater festivals was “ theater management” which is predicted to be hold again in 28th festival. It has an interesting subject, attended by professional lecturers, held in convenient conditions…which all are important factors in an effectual workshop.
The efforts of festival’s organizers are focused on having scientific gathering and workshops in order to improve Iranian theater conditions. It is vital for the media to help them with proper advertising to attract the potential attendees. This is an opportunity that should be embraced by