Tabriz Kotal Theater (Iran)

The little black fish

Festival Synenergy, Novi Sad/ Serbia, 27th of November 2019, 19:00 (duration 50′)

ABOUT THE PLAY

The little black fish is tired of the dark swamp. She has decided to travel to the sea. On the way she encounters frogs, crabs, moons and more.

ABOUT THE LITTLE BLACK FISH

The Little Black Fish (Mahi Siyah Kuchulu) is unique in thissense because it addresses adult themes such as injustice, oppression, and struggle. Written by Samad Behrangi (1939-1967), the story concerns a small black fish thatleaves the safety of a local stream to venture out into theworld. As he discovers the vastness of the ocean, he alsocomes into contact with various animals that either represent the oppressed class or the oppressors.

He is facedwith many obstacles and threatening creatures, and ultimately sacrifices himself to save the lives of others.Today, Mahi Siyah Kuchulu is recognized as one of themost beloved stories in Iranian children’s literature. Mentioning the name of this tale to a member of our parent’sgeneration conjures memories of their childhood as wellas the Revolution.

Though banned during Pahlavi ruledue to its nature as a political allegory, the story of theLittle Black Fish became an important revolutionary tool.Written on the eve of open armed struggle in Iran (thefirst guerrilla activities started in 1971), the story symbolized the lives of young revolutionaries killed by the Pahlavi regime. In one of the most famous lines from the story, the little black fish addresses the issue of resistance inthe face of death. “Death could come upon me very easily now.

But as long as I’m able to live, I shouldn’t go outto meet death. Of course, if someday I should be forcedto face death— as I shall— it doesn’t matter. What doesmatter is the influence that my life or death will haveon the lives of others.” This line resonated strongly withmany revolutionaries who believed they were sacrificingtheir lives for the emancipation of the oppressed.

ABOUT THE WRITHER

Samad Behrangi was born in 1939 Tabriz, in working-classIranian Azerbaijani family. He was a teacher, social critic,folklorist, translator, and short story writer.As a young schoolteacher from a humble background,Behrangi worked among children in rural Iranian Azerbaijan and had come to identify with their suffering anddespair. His short stories were written in defense of socialjustice.

He believed that children’s literature should inform children of the real lives of the poor and their struggles against hardship. ,,Shouldn’t we tell the child thatin your country there are boys and girls who have neverseen a piece of meat on their plates? Shouldn’t we tellthe child that more than half of the world’s populationare hungry, and why they are hungry, and how hungercould be diminished?

Shouldn’t we give the child a trueand logical understanding of the history anddevelopment of human societies? The childmust know how hard her/his father works tobring food to the family“, he claimed.