who we are
Seda Iranian Theatre Ensemble was founded in 2019 as the first Iranian theatre company in Seattle, USA. We named our ensemble Seda – which means ‘voice’ in Persian – because we believe that every human has a voice, and every voice deserves to be heard. We chose the name Seda as we aim to create an opportunity for refugees and immigrants whose voice cannot be heard. In a world where the powerful majority controls the mainstream media and is the dominating voice, theatre is an incredible place to be seen and heard. Theatre is created out of nothing: all it takes is a viewer and a performer. The stage could be a house, a performance hall, an alley, or an abandoned warehouse. At Seda Theatre, we want to amplify and give voice to the issues and stories of immigrants by creating work on stage and through imagination and art. We will teach and learn.
Seda is home to all immigrants with a “voice”.
Be Seda’s voice!
تیاتر صدا در سال 2019 ، به عنوان اولین تیاتر ایرانی در شهر سیاتل تاسیس شد. عنوان ِ "صدا " را برگزیدیم ، چرا که باور داریم هر انسانی صدایی دارد و صدای ِ هر انسان، ارزش ِ شنیده شدن. عنوان ِ صدا را برگزیدیم چرا که این کمپانی می خواهد امکانی فراهم کند برای ِ شنیدن ِ صداهای ِ مهاجرانی که دور از سرزمین های ِ خویش اند و فرصت محدود تری برای ِ شنیده شدن دارند . در جهانی که غالب رسانه ها را قدرت ها به تسخیر خود در آورده اند و صداهای ِ مسلطشان را به گوش ما می رسانند ، تیاتر یک امکان شگفت انگیز است برای ِ دیده و شنیده شدن؛ چرا که تیاتر با هیچ شکل می گیرد : تنها یک تماشاگر و یک اجرا گر کافی است که تیاتر زاده شود و مهم نیست که مکان اجرا خانه باشد ، یا سالنی بزرگ ، کوچه باشد ، یا کارخانه ای متروک. در کمپانی تیاتر صدا ، ما می خواهیم حرف ها و دغدغه های ِ مهاجران را از طریق ِ به صحنه بردن وبا تکیه بر خلاقیت و هنر ، به گوش ِ دیگران برسانیم : اگر لازم باشد آموزش می دهیم، یا می آموزیم. اگر لازم باشد در سالن های ِ بزرگ اجرا می کنیم ، یا در خانه های ِ کوچک. اگر لازم باشد از مهاجران ِ ایرانی می گوییم، یا از مهاجرانی از ملیت های ِ مختلف که هر یک به گوشه ای از این .جهان پهناور پناه برده اند .صدا خانه ی تمام مهاجرانی است که صدایی دارند
. صدای ِ صدا باشید
Our Mission
We founded Seda – which means ‘voice’ in Persian- as a platform to create art that amplifies the lost and forgotten voices of refugees, immigrants and humans from the Middle-East and beyond, who often don’t have the chance to be heard in the chaos of news and other dominating voices. We believe that awareness and understanding changes our perspective, brings our hearts closer and eventually leads to peace.
Through performing arts, education and programming, we also aim to break the stereotypes around the “other” and create asafe space for cultural and intellectual exchange between audiences from all over the world.
در تئاتر صدا بر آنیم تا صدای خاموش و كم تر شنيده شده پناهندگان ومهاجرانی باشیم كه در هياهوي خبر ها و اولویت های جهانِ غالب امكاني براي شنيده شدن ندارند. ما بر این باوریم گه شناخت و آگاهی عامل تغییر دیدگاه، زدودن خشونت و رسیدن به جهانی صلح آمیز است.
Our Vision
To establish Seda Theatre as a credible international platform for creating, producing, and teaching Iranian and other immigrant nationalities’ works of theatre. We strive to create works that speak to all humans and to make Seda Theatre an established company among the American theatre community.
We also aim to break the stereotypes around the “other” and create a safe space for cultural and intellectual exchange between audiences from all over the world.
دورنمای ِ ما ، تبدیل ِ تئاتر صدا به جایگاهی معتبر و بین المللی برای خلق، اجرا و آموزش تیاتر ایران و تیاتر ِ دیگر ملیت های ِ مهاجر است. ما می خواهیم تیاتر صدا بتواند با مخاطبانی از تمام ملیت ها گفت و گو کند و جایگاهی جدی در میان ِ جامعه ی تیاتری امریکایی بیابد.
همچنین برآنیم تا کلیشه‌های فکری درباره ی "دیگری" را زدوده ، فضایی ایجاد کنیم برای تبادل فرهنگی و فکری مخاطبانی از همه ی نقاط جهان.
Naghmeh Samini
Co-Founder / Artistic Director
She was born in Iran and received her BA in Drama and MA in Cinema both from the University of Tehran -She is a PhD Holder in Drama and mythology. More than twenty plays of her have been staged in Iran, France, India and etc. This award winning playwright has also written several screenplays.She has been working as a professor at the University of Tehran since 2005 and has also run several workshops in Iran and abroad. As a researcher she has published two books one about Thousand and one night and Drama and mythology in Iran and many articles. Some of her awards and achievements include: Best book of the year in Iran for Myth’s theatre/ An Archetypical approach to Iranian Dramatic literature 2009, Winner of the Best playwright in the Second playwright’s forum festival- 2008, Winner of the best screenwriter in International Fajr film festival 2007, Winner of the Best playwright in the city of Tehran 2005, Winner of the Best playwright in International Fajr theatre festival in the years of 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, One of the selected playwrights by the “Center of dialogue between civilizations” 2003, Best woman film Critic and the best playwright in “Kosar” cinema festival 1997.
Parmida Ziaei
Co-Founder / Producing Managing Director
Parmida Ziaei is an Iranian multidisciplinary artist based in Seattle. Parmida’s work is often a combination of her dual identities as an Iranian immigrant, and is informed by her background in architecture and theatre. As a designer, Parmida has designed various interior, architectural, immersive and entertainment spaces. She has been a scenic and production designer with many Seattle theatres including ACT, 5th Ave Theatre, Sound Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Seattle Public Theatre, ArtsWest and more. As a performer, Parmida often brings together her background in various dance styles including Classical Persian dance and contemporary movement to create a unique movement style that is a representation of her merging identities. In her teaching and choreography work, she is interested in exploring how each person's body embodies movement informed by their experiences to tell a story and express emotions. Parmida recently performed her original solo show, Dancing beyond the Veil, as part of Macha Theatre's 17 minute stories. Parmida was the recipient of the Northwest Creator Residency at Village Theatre in 2022.