Ta'zieh in Khan e Lenjan Takia

Ta'zieh means Condolence Theater and Naqqali are traditional Persian theatrical genres in which the drama is conveyed wholly or predominantly through music and singing. Ta'zia dates before the Islamic era and the tragedy of Saiawush in Shahnameh is one of the best examples.

In Persian tradition, Ta'zia and Parde-khani, inspired by historical and religious events, symbolize epic spirit and resistance.
The common theme is the hero tales of love and sacrifice and of resistance against the evil.

Like Western passion plays, Ta'zia dramas were originally performed outdoors at crossroads and other public places where large audiences could gather.
Performances later took place in the courtyards of inns and private homes, but eventually unique structures called takias were constructed for the specific purpose of staging the plays.
Community cooperation was encouraged in the building and decoration of the takias, whether the funds for the enterprise were provided by an individual philanthropist or by contributions from the residents of its particular locality. The takias varied in size, from intimate structures which could only accommodate a few dozen spectators to large buildings capable of holding an audience of more than a thousand people.
Often the takias were temporary, having been erected specially for the mourning of Muharram.
All takias, regardless of their size, are constructed as theaters-in-the-round to intensify the dynamic between actors and audience. the spectators are literally surrounded by the action and often become physical participants in the play. In unwalled takias, it is not unusual for combat scenes to occur behind the audience .

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Khan e Lenjan is an old town in the south of Isfahan with more than one thousand years ancientness of civilization !