This Stage Is My Home

The book “This Stage Is My Home: Life, Thought, and Works of Hamid Samandarian” is the result of a sincere, deep, and long-term conversation between Afsaneh Mahian and Hamid Samandarian, a prominent figure in Iranian theater. Published in 2009 by Ghatr Publishing, the work is a comprehensive biography spanning 656 pages that portrays the professional and personal life of one of the most important Iranian theater masters and directors. The book begins with a meticulous timeline of Samandarian’s life, works, and artistic activities, followed by extensive interviews covering various aspects of his life, including artistic endeavors, aesthetic perspectives, cultural concerns, and personal memories. The tone of the dialogues appeals both to professional readers and enthusiasts of biography and oral history of Iranian art. Notable features include a personal and intimate narration where Afsaneh Mahian manages to create a warm yet precise atmosphere allowing Samandarian’s own voice to be heard, offering readers a closer and more human understanding of him. The end of the book contains a special section with photographs documenting Samandarian’s life, performances, contemporaneous actors, and significant theatrical scenes, enhancing the book’s appeal and providing a visual window into decades of Iranian theater. This book serves not only as a valuable resource for researchers, students, and theater enthusiasts but also as an engaging read for anyone interested in contemporary Iranian culture and art. Samandarian’s narratives, analyses, and reflections offer a rich depiction of the challenges, achievements, and development of modern Iranian theater. “This Stage Is My Home” is more than a biography; it is a document of the history of contemporary Iranian theater and an echo of a generation of artists who made the stage their home through love, awareness, and resistance. Reading this book is an opportunity to revisit the memory and thought of one of the most influential figures in Iranian theater.