The English premiere of the solo performance My Way by Shahab Tolouie will be presented on October 11th, 17:00 at the Moving Center Literary Festival. Shahab’s extraordinary life journey, full of intimate and sometimes even miraculous details, masterfully accompanied by his own music and singing, will be held at the House of National Minorities, Vocelova 602/3, 120 00, Prague 2.
As a musician, his journey began in Iran—at the turn of two epochs, before and after the Islamic revolution in Iran, a mysterious country for many. You will see everything through the eyes of a young musician hungry for knowledge and freedom, for whom a single unexpected event in the middle of the war decided his fate and future.
The performance is both intimate and interactive. Shahab tells an amazing story with many unpredictable twists and touching moments that reach the most hidden corners of the heart. Like when his parents brought home a guitar and accordion in the middle of the war, which Shahab describes as the moment when all borders were wiped off the map for him.
For 90 riveting minutes, it’s just Shahab on stage—with his story, his guitars, and plenty of breathtaking details about ups and downs as varied and unexpected as the music he creates and plays. The performance incorporates songs that have influenced his musical journey as an artist, sung in Persian, English, Czech, and Spanish. The audience also get to see/hear Shahab’s unique triple-neck guitar “Fusetar,” which was created as a result of the fusion of the cultures.
And, of course, revel in Shahab’s stunning voice.
“I’m an Iranian, and ‘Iran’ is a word that indeed brings up questions in people’s minds. And no matter where in the world I perform, almost always after each concert there are some lovely people coming forward with curious questions. They ask about my homeland, cultural differences, my life choices, challenges, the music I listen to, or the places I really love and miss. It is precisely for all those kindred spirits who come to chat after my concerts that this very personal and intimate presentation was created,” says Shahab. “Through my story, I invite my audience to explore the universal themes of cultural assimilation and its enriching impact on us all. By sharing my personal journey, I aim to foster a greater understanding of these complex issues and inspire others to embrace the beauty and diversity of human experiences.”
After the performance, there is an open discussion in which Shahab takes questions from the audience, and articulates further nuances and details of his life. His magical journey is guaranteed to reinvigorate your own.
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“My Way” is the english adaptation of the Czech version “Moje Cesta” which was premiered on October 2023 to a great reception and was included in the 2023 list of theatrical performances submitted independently to ‘Divadelní Noviny.’ After one year touring various cities in the Czech Republic, its sister version in English has been made mainly for English speaking audiences.