The complex, the symbol of live theater in Tehran, is now obscured by pavilions selling goods and overshadowed by a Metro station popping up right in front of the building.
“It seems there is a deliberate attempt to block the visibility of the complex,” actor and director Mahmud Azizi told the Iranian Students News Agency Sunday.
Located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Vali-e Asr and Enqilab streets, the City Theater Complex opened to the public in 1972.
“The complex has turned into a bazaar offering a variety of goods in each pavilion. They need to dedicate specific locations for the pavilions. Everything should have its own place,” Azizi said.
The structure of the theater was damaged when the Municipality of Tehran built a religious complex in its parking lot in 2003. This project damaged the walls of the Theater Complex, which resulted in officials having to close the venue for reconstruction.
Director Hassan Bastani, who is staging his play “Day of Soldier” at the workshop of the complex, also complained. “There are no signs or billboards or banners promoting the plays on stage in the complex around the building. What is mostly observed are big tents with flashing lights,” he said.
“I wonder who issues the permits. If it is the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, why is it that they don’t they care about the City Theater at all? People do not like this type of atmosphere. It is crowded with a lot of noise. I myself feel sick when I pass by this place. I would hope that the officials would care much more about it,” he said.
“Artists complained about the construction of the Metro station several years ago, but they were ignored by officials. Any time a train passes by, its ear-splitting rumble is heard all around,” he complained.
The managing director of the theater, Iraj Raad, said, “Every day I pass by the City Theater, I feel depressed that there is no cultural ambience surrounding it. There needs to be efforts to restore the situation and make visitors feel they are visiting an artistic location,” he said.