The body of a woman

The body of a woman as a battlefield in the Bosnian war

NOV 3

7:30 PM

Presentation House Theatre

Written by Matei Visniec, Sara Poursorkh takes the lead as the director, with assistance from Mehrad Ramezankhani, and Paris Lajevard as the stage manager.

Yassaman Hosseini, Arghavan Hatamkhan, Yeganeh Dorri, Parniyan Golkar, Faezeh Samani, Mahnaz Sheikhesmaeili, Bahar Salamatian, Negar Goli, Afsoon Gharib Mombeini, Leila Abtahi, Rana Madani, Shohre Mirzaei deliver the performance and the music is by Amirhossein Rashidi.

Please note that this show is in Farsi language with English subtitles.

Content Advisory:

This show addresses sensitive subject matter and includes loud noises. Viewer discretion is advised.

Sara Poursorkh

Immersed in pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry and entwined with art and
theatre for nearly 15 years, my life is a seamless blend of these passions. As an actress and director in Iran, I embraced the stage, where art and life merged. Now, as a spirited immigrant student in Vancouver, I seek my artistic path, driven by the boundless joy of performing and creating art. The symphony of my journey continues, where science and creativity dance hand in hand, united in the tapestry of my life.

Yasaman Hosseini

Yasaman Hosseini is an Iranian artist who started her job in the theatre
industry since 2017. She worked with theatre groups in Iran between 2017 and 2021 as an actress, graphic designer and stage designer. As assistant director and stage manager, she started her job in Vancouver in 2022 with Blackout Art Society with the show Echoes from Far Away Cities. Her late show with this group was Grafting, where she acted as a performer and stage designer. She was also educated as an architect and urban designer.She is working as an architect these days.

Arghavan Hatamkhan

"Art within me, beyond any path, has been the driving force behind my
quest for truth." - Arghavan, from her first poetry collection book intro. Arghavan's passion for art began in her childhood when she received admiration from her teachers for writing short stories and performing in school. Since then, she has dedicated her life to writing and acting,
starting from 6, even after she studied physical chemistry at university. She believes that her knowledge of science has always inspired her creativity. In 2018, she published her first poetry book in Iran titled "Parvaz-e-Tehran Vancouver."

Amirhossein Rashidi

Amirhossein Rashidi is a multifaceted individual pursuing a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Alongside his academic endeavours, Amirhossein has a profound passion for music, a journey that began during his preschool years. By the end of his elementary education, he chose to delve deeper into Iranian traditional music, mastering the Tar, an endeavour for which he remains deeply grateful to his music teacher, Salman Salek.
Despite majoring in chemistry during his undergraduate studies, Amirhossein never distanced himself from his musical roots. He actively participated in the university music club, known as the Sharif Music Group. It was during this period that he discovered his love for theatre music. Playing with student groups, he found the experience so captivating that he continued collaborating with various teams over the years. This musical journey faced a brief hiatus when Amirhossein immigrated to Canada. However, upon finding like-minded enthusiasts in his new home, he immersed himself in music and theatre again.

Mehrad Ramezankhani

An engineer who is lost in art. A person who is always enthusiastic about the performances and wants to be involved in any poetry. Looking for improvements in different manners which are really far from each other. Hopeless and hopeful at the same time about the future.

Afsoon Gharib Mombeini

Afsoon is originally from Iran and now resides in Vancouver, Canada. She is pursuing a PhD at the University of British Columbia, delving into her true passion, the human brain. Afsoon views the human body as a natural masterpiece, with the brain as its centrepiece. This organ governs our perception of the world, influencing what we see, hear, smell, touch, taste, and even our existence — elements she believes are akin to art forms. In her doctoral research, Afsoon is committed to unravelling the mysteries of the brain.
Outside the laboratory, she plunges into the realm of art. For her, indulging in artistic endeavours is the epitome of living life to its fullest. She harbours a deep affection for painting, playing the violin, and acting. It's in these artistic moments that she feels most invigorated.

Rana Madani

While pursuing a Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences, she discovered her true passion for the delicate balance between science and art. From her earliest memories, she was captivated by the strokes of paintbrushes and the melodies of the piano. As the years progressed, she delved into the tactile world of pottery, finding immense joy in shaping creations with her hands. Last summer, under the mentorship of the inspiring Sara, she stepped into the theatre world. Surprisingly, theatre ignited a deep love within her. With its ability to express emotions through body and soul, theatre became another cherished form of artistic expression in her life.

Leila Abtahi

Leila is a Ph.D. student in Cell Biology from Iran; she has a deep passion for science and arts.
She's an accomplished actress and theatre enthusiast, contributing both on stage and behind the scenes. She also has experience as a writer and director for a radio show at Shiraz University and as a voice actor in two audio plays in Iran. Teaching, especially biology, is another love of hers; she spent a year as a teacher. Her dream is to merge the worlds of science and art to bridge divides and foster unity.
Leila believes her current role as a Ph.D. student at UBC is an excellent opportunity to work with international groups in science and theatre. Her ultimate goal is to become a professor, creating inclusive classrooms where art helps unite people, regardless of their differences.

Bahar Salamatian

She is a passionate machine-learning software engineer who enjoys coding and mathematics. She also profoundly appreciates art, believing it adds vibrancy to life. With the guidance of Sara, her exceptional director, she's had the opportunity to delve deeper into the artistic realm. As an immigrant, Canada has become her cherished home, where she has wholeheartedly embraced the diverse culture and welcoming community. She enjoys socializing and learning about others' journeys. On weekends, she can be found exploring the breathtaking Canadian landscapes through hiking and biking adventures!

Faezeh Samani

Faezeh is an engineer for most of the day and an art enthusiast for the best part of it. She dramatically admires creative minds and wishes to become one when she grows up.

Parniyan Golkar

Parniyan's artistic journey began with ballet in her childhood and continues with her love for Salsa dancing today. As an architect and green building consultant, she's always been passionate about various art forms, from sketching to sculpting and acting. Theatre, for her, is the ultimate canvas where she can weave all her artistic passions into one captivating performance, showcasing her diverse talents and love for the arts.

Yeganeh Dorri

In a world of fake people wearing masks and pretending to be something they are not, theatre allows us to be our true selves. Although suffocating in silence in our daily ordinary lives, we suddenly find ourselves shouting our fears and whatever we are forbidden to talk or even think about through this magical medium. Theatre is a window for the light of truth to shine, without which this world would be too dark to live in.

Paris Lajevard

Negar Goli

Negar is an immigrant from Iran who moved to Canada six years ago. After graduating from UBC, she thrived in the tech industry during the day. However, by night, she finds solace and self-expression in the captivating realm of theatre, where she connects her past with her present.

Mahnaz Sheikhesmaeili

Mahnaz is an experienced Occupational Therapist by trade and an art enthusiast by heart. She is working hard to pursue acting professionally and squeeze it into her already busy, career-oriented life. She is originally from the Kurdistan district of Iran and speaks three languages.

Shohre Mirzaei

Shohre (Mahboubeh), a postdoctoral fellow in Environmental Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), is a fervent admirer of the arts. Her academic curiosity drives her to uncover hidden stories behind the scenes, and she passionately shares these tales on the stage. Her journey aims to forge a harmonious union between the world of science and the captivating realm of art.