A new play by North Shore resident and Blackout Arts Society co-founder Amir N. Hosseini is premiering at Vancouver’s Annex Theatre early next month.
Echoes from Far Away Cities explores the topics of domestic violence and acid attacks, and the Iranian-Canadian director became involved with the project after making a documentary about an acid attack victim in Iran more than 10 years ago.
“The question started here, how can someone commit this level of violence? Then I realized abuse is not just a physical injury; it could be sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal, or financial. An abuser could be an educated person who uses threats and violence to gain power and control over their partner and take away their self-worth,” Hosseini said.
Domestic violence is one of the most prevalent human rights violations across the world today, Hosseini noted, and said it remains under-reported due to impunity and the stigma and shame surrounding it.
“That's part of the issue, it mostly remains invisible. The idea behind this play is to find a way to show the invisible and, in doing so, share the devastating impact of trauma and domestic violence, in hopes of bringing awareness to the problem,” he shared.
Writing and directing Persian theatre in the Lower Mainland since 2012, Hosseini began writing and directing in English in 2020, hoping to open his plays to a broader audience.
Blackout Arts does note that the topic of Echoes is sensitive and might disturb some viewers. The society is recommending that people attending are 17 and older, and will be providing resources to those who may need it at the performances.
When: May 3-6, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Annex, 823 Seymour St, Vancouver, B.C.
Cost: $20-$30, tickets available online
Charlie Carey is the North Shore News' Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
