Iran: New Voices
Daedalus & Icarus

Homayoun Ghanizadeh
Director

Born in 1980, Ghanizadeh is a writer, director and actor. His foray into the world of theatre was as director and actor in 'Waiting for Godot' of Samuel Beckett, in 2004 for Mungu Theatre Company. He has written and directed 'Daedalus & Icarus' for which he was named Best Director at the 2007 International Fajr Theatre Festival in Tehran.

Vali Mahlouji
Associate Producer: Iran New Voices

Born in Tehran, Vali Mahlouji came to London as a result of the outbreak of the Islamic Revolution in Iran to study archaeology and linguistics at the University of London, specialising in ancient Iranian art and antiquities as well as studying Old and Middle Persian for an MPhil in Iranian Philology. He subsequently established his own art gallery before also training in Fine Art and Theatre Design. As a designer his recent projects in theatre and film range from Maeterlinck's The Blind to Dvorak's Rusalka for amongst others the ICA, Riverside Studios, Arcola Theatre and Grange Park Opera, as well as short films for the BBC and UK Film Council. Vali has also worked extensively as a translator in collaboration with the Barbican, NFT, BFI, V&A and Channel 4. His translations and publications include Koohestani's Amid the Clouds (Royal Court), Samini's Eleventh Minute (BBC) and as a co-contributor on Islamic Affairs and Arts & Education for The Guardian.

Hamidreza Naeimi Jegarlouei

Born in 1974, Naeimi is an author, director and a university professor. He has won many awards for his dramatisation and scripts for theatre at Festivals such as the 11th International Rustic Festival, 1997 for the script of 'Inconvenience' and at the 24th International Fajr Festival for 'Macbeth'.

Javad Namaki

Born in Iran in 1984, Namaki graduated from Azad University, Tehran in Theatre Studies. His professional life as an actor started in 1998. In 2007 he played 'Icarus' in Mungu Theatre Company's 'Daedalus & Icarus', directed by Homayoun Ghanizadeh winner of the Best Director award at the 2007 Fajr Theatre Festival in Tehran. He has also worked as a puppeteer, writing and directing traditional plays in Iran, as well as working on such plays as '8 Moments', which in 2006 received praise of the most philosophical work in the 10th International Festival of Puppet Art, in Prague.