WORLD PREMIERE

“We don’t happen to love; it happens to us.”

Afsaneh Aayani’s latest experimental dance-theatre piece was loosely inspired by two of friends: one from Tel Aviv, the other from her native Tehran. Featuring an original soundscape by longtime collaborator Hessam Dianpour, Romeos and Juliets also contains echoes of the Persian love story Layla and Majnun sharing striking similarities with and surely influencing Shakespeare’s tragedy. Across human history, we have been told who and how to love, so there can’t be a single Romeo or Juliet, Layla or Majnun. They are legion.

Audiences will recognize Aayani's work from her striking scenic designs at Catastrophic, across Houston, and beyond. Catastrophic fans might know her best for the extraordinary original works she has premiered on our stage: The Turn of the Screw and Innominate . (World premiere.)

“ Aayani is a major talent with something to say and a multitude of talents with which to say it .” – Houston Chronicle

AFSANEH AAYANI is a Houston-based scenic and costume designer, puppeteer, puppet maker, director, voice actress, and artist with over 17 years of industry experience. She began her artistic journey in Iran where she developed her skills as a puppeteer and puppet maker and performed as a voice actor on television. Shortly after completing her Bachelor's Degree in Puppetry from the Tehran University of Art, she performed in festivals internationally including in China, Poland, Germany, and Sri Lanka. After building extensive experience in Iran, Afsaneh moved to the USA to earn her MFA in Scenic Design from the University of Houston in 2020. She works all over Houston and across the country.Read more