Majnoun

Mehrdad Seyf
Artistic Director, 30 Bird Productions
Director and Writer
Mehrdad Seyf was born in Tehran and has lived in the UK since his teens. He trained as an actor/director with Theatre de Complicite, Monica Pagneux, Rick Zoltowski and Lorna Marshall. In 1996 he co-founded 30 Bird Productions, an Anglo-Iranian film and theatre company based in London.

His plays include The Parable of the Blind, Death by Heroine, The Veil and Majnoun. Mehrdad was executive producer on the documentary but you speak such good English. In 1999 he co-wrote his first film script Two Obstacles to Marriage with Claire Summerfield. His work is influenced by the relationship between Iranian and European cultures. Mehrdad is currently Associate Director for Attic Theatre Company. He was assistant director to David Farr for the production of The Odyssey at the Lyric Hammersmith in February 2006. Mehrdad's next play, The Persian Revolution, is scheduled for production in London in autumn 2006. Mehrdad has also been selected as a writer for Stages of Sound by BBC Radio 4 and Hampstead Theatre.

Claire Summerfield
Producer, 30 Bird Productions
Claire trained as an actress at Rose Bruford College and with Theatre de Complicite, Monica Pagneux, David Glass and Del La Guarda.

Since 1995 Claire has co-run 30 Bird Productions, producing The Parable of the Blind, Death by Heroine, The Maids, Majnoun and the documentary but you speak such good English. In 1999 Claire co-wrote her first film script Two Obstacles to Marriage with Mehrdad Seyf. Her freelance work includes Tiempo de Tango at Sadler's Wells, project management and arts based training for the Almeida Theatre and producing for The Big Picture Company.

Leslie Travers
Designer
Leslie was a top prize-winner in the European Opera Competition organised by Camerata Nuova and the Confederation of European Opera Houses for his designs for H. Marschner's opera Hans Hailing. Trained in theatre design at the Wimbledon School of Art his Designs include - Shirley Valentine (Derby Playhouse), Swan Lake (K-Ballet, Tokyo), Silent Cry (WYP), Tales of Hoffmann (Folks Theatre, Stockholm), Veriete (Lindsay Kemp Company, World tour), The Lark Ascending (English National Ballet, London) Faust (German National Films, Munich), Death by Heroine, The Parable of the Blind, The Maids and Majnoun (30 Bird Productions). Leslie is resident designer for 30 Bird.

Ali Amadi
Performer
Ali trained at Birmingham School of Speech and Drama. His theatre credits include: Majnoun for 30 Bird Productions, Xtrax/Decibel showcase; The Strange Case ... (Jekyll/Hyde); The Master and Margarita (Pontius Pilate); As You Like It (Oliver) and The Tempest (Caliban) for Arkansas Shakespeare Festival; Othello (Bianca/Duke) BAC; The Birds (Hoopoe) Edinburgh Festival and The Jungle Book (Bagheera) at The Library Theatre.

Film & TV credits include: How dare they dir. David Knight and OVA dir, George Flatters, Julius Caesar in the BBC ONE series Historyonics and Comic Side of 7 Days for BBC THREE.

Betsabeh Emran
Performer
Betsabeh graduated from Brunel University with a BA hons in Music & Drama. In 2003 she went on to achieve an MA in Choreography with Performing Arts from Middlesex University. Her performance training also includes: Told by an Idiot, Rambert Dance Company and Frantic Assembly.

Her film, theatre & radio credits include: Majnoun for 30 Bird Productions, X.Trax/Decibel Showcase; Arabian Nights Paul Robeson Theatre; Who Killed Alexander The Great? For Atlantic Productions; Tales of the Living Dead, National Geographic and Discovery Channels and Motel Texl for BBC Radio 4 (Dir. Peter Kavanagh).