Tehran’s Iranian Artists Forum to stage Peter Handke’s play “Kaspar”

Solo performance of Peter Handke’s Kaspar examines how language shapes identity, conformity, and individual expression within societal constructs

TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — The Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) in Tehran is set to host a new staging of the play Kaspar, written by Austrian Nobel laureate Peter Handke, beginning June 8.

Directed and performed by Farid Adhami, the one-hour solo performance will run for three weeks at the IAF’s Entezami Hall, according to a report from Honaronline.

Originally published in 1967, Kaspar was Handke’s first full-length drama and remains one of his most influential works. 

The play draws inspiration from the real-life figure Kaspar Hauser, a 17-year-old boy who appeared in a German town in 1824 after being raised in near-complete isolation. 

He knew only a single sentence, and his story became a subject of fascination for scientists and philosophers alike.

Kaspar delves into the power and limitations of language, portraying how society imposes speech and structure on individuals in ways that can shape — or suppress — personal identity. 

Handke uses minimal dialogue and unconventional narrative techniques to challenge conventional theatre norms, inviting audiences to rethink how language can both define and confine the self.

The play reflects on conformity, individuality, and the pressures of assimilation. In Handke’s words, Kaspar “shows how someone can be made to speak through speaking,” emphasizing the subtle violence behind language acquisition and societal integration.

Handke’s work continues to provoke thought and debate about the role of communication in shaping human experience. 

Through Adhami’s interpretation, the Tehran performance seeks to bring these themes to life for a contemporary audience.