Iran Heritage Foundation UK registered charity with the mission to promote and preserve the history, languages and cultures of Iran and the Persianate world. Iran Heritage Farsi Persian Norouz Nowruz Cultural Charity Yalda Farhang
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Tales from Kalileh va Dimneh and Persian poetry
Storytelling by Zahra Afsah
Watch Here
Muhammad Zaman, “A Nighttime Gathering”, Iran, Isfahan, dated 1664-5, opaque watercolour, ink and gold on paper, 33.3 x 21 cm, Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 30.95.174.2The sage and the mouse
​​​Organised by
The Iran Heritage Foundation

Date
Monday 14th December, 17.30 (London, GMT)
Please note this is an online event.
​

Description
As many of you know, IHF’s last event of the year is usually a sociable and entertaining evening in anticipation of Yalda. As the nights grow longer and the year draws to a close, it is normally the time to bring friends and family together for storytelling, poetry and food. This year, although we won’t be able to celebrate together in person, we would like to invite you to enjoy some classical storytelling and poetry reading. This event is suitable for all ages so gather your whole household together, share the event with your families and friends, and join us for our final event of the year.

Performer Zahra Afsah will introduce and recount for us a couple of lively tales taken from the collection of fables known as Kalileh va Dimneh. There will be specially recorded performances of Zahra accompanied by renowned musicians Adib Rostami, playing the kamancheh, and Sulaiman Haqpana, playing the tabla. The stories will be told in English and Zahra will also do a live recitation of some classical poetry in Persian.

​Biography
Zahra Afsah was born and grew up in Tehran. In 2016 she completed her second MA in Persian Painting and Transcultural Visuality at the Courtauld Institute of Art. Her MA dissertation examines the links between oral storytelling and Persian miniature painting, exploring the direct influences of the oral tradition in the Khamseh of Nizami of AD 1494-95. Zahra has run various workshops and performed in schools and museums, as well as informal settings. In June 2018, she finished the UK’s only national storytelling development program to transform the way stories are told, performing at Canada Water Theatre and Battersea Arts Centre. She has had sold out performances at IHF’s Yalda celebrations, recounting the tale of Layla and Majnun (Dec 2018), and also at the Festival of Ideas in Cambridge (Oct 2019). She was due to perform at the Chester Beatty in Dublin as part of Persian New Year celebrations in March 2020, as well as make a recitation of Khosrow and Shirin at the Victoria and Albert Museum but unfortunately both of these events were cancelled due to Covid-19.

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • About IHF
    • Annual Reports
    • Publications
    • IHF America
    • Persian Language Online
    • Partnerships
    • Contact
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events Calendar
    • Past Events >
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
    • Newsflashes >
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
  • Videos
  • Grants
  • Epic Iran
    • Epic Iran Concise Tour
    • Epic Iran Press Release
    • Epic Iran Press Coverage
    • Epic Iran Opening
  • Blog
  • Join & Support
    • Friends of IHF
    • Support IHF
    • Subscribe >
      • Unsubscribe
  • Search