Conceived, directed and designed by Afsaneh Aayani
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
THE CATASTROPHIC THEATRE
PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN
$40 suggested
More if you have it.
Less if you don’t.
The Catastrophic Theatre is celebrating its 16th year as a Pay-What-You-Can theatre, ensuring the experience of live performance is available to every Houstonian.
Why do we do this?
Because we don’t believe the arts should be a luxury and we’re pretty sure you don’t either.
Today, less than half of Houstonians can afford to see a play. Really. The average price of a theatre ticket in Houston hovers around $55. For a single ticket. Over 39% of Houstonians live check-to-check. They work hard and still struggle to make basic ends meet. Another 14% live in poverty.
We believe everyone should have access to the theatre experience regardless of their financial status.
How does it work?
Pay-What-You-Can isn’t a discount program, it’s an honor system. It relies on you paying what you can truly afford, however much that is. Everyone’s financial situation is different. We rely on you to select the price point that reflects your own.
If you can afford to pay more, you make it possible for those that can’t—a radical act of kindness.
In other words, we don’t make it work. You do.
CATASTROPHIC THEATRE TICKET POLICY & INFORMATION
Please Read Carefully
TICKET INFORMATION
- GENERAL ADMISSION SEATING
- Pay-What-You-Can
- $10 online minimum (+$5 service fee)
- $0 to $9 Available in person/at the box office
- The lowest price point online is $10 (plus the $5 fee), but our tickets are available at any price. If you can’t afford $10, we hold a limited number of tickets which you can reserve, in person only, beginning two hours before the performance at the MATCH box office (3400 Main St).
All tickets are subject to a $5 fee to cover costs of the MATCH box office. If you can’t afford the $5 fee, please visit the box office to reserve your tickets in person, let them know that, and Catastrophic will gladly pay the $5 fee instead.
- Wheelchair accessible seating is available.
- ALL SALES ARE FINAL: If you are unable to attend, we will gladly exchange your tickets for another performance or even another production. All exchanges are on a space-available basis. To reach the box office, call (713) 521-4533 or email boxoffice@matchouston.org.
SHOW INFORMATION
- Lobby and seating open 30 minutes prior to curtain time.
- SOLD OUT PERFORMANCES: Please arrive at the theatre at least 15-30 minutes before the performance. Tickets that are not picked up 5 minutes before show time will be released to the Standby/waiting list for sold out shows.
- No outside food or drinks are allowed on the premises.