Edinburgh Fringe 2024
A Fire Ignites
Tara Tedjarati Productions
Genre: New Writing, Political, Solo Show
Venue: The Space @ Surgeon's Hall
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
A thoughtful and provocative piece that packs a lot into its short runtime. With its strong writing and a compelling central performance, it’s a powerful way to start your Fringe day, and will leave you with much to reflect on.
Review
The play opens with news clips detailing street protests in Iran. The tension mounts as we hear about the first death sentence against a protester, followed by the chilling account of Mahsa Amini’s arrest and subsequent death for not wearing her hijab correctly. Against this backdrop, Parisa, played by Tara Tedjarati, stands defiantly at the front of the stage, as she removes her hijab in protest before setting it on fire, and shouting ‘Death to the Dictator’.
A Fire Ignites is a compelling one-woman play that explores the lives of three linked women grappling with oppression under the Iranian regime. Tedjarati, who is of Canadian-Iranian descent, not only performs but also wrote, directed, and produced this evocative piece. The story unfolds through the perspectives of Parisa, a rebellious teenager who defies the morality police; Maryam, her best friend, who struggles with her mental health and fears for her safety due to her sexual orientation; and Yasaman, Parisa’s mother, who is torn between protecting her daughter and the harsh reality of losing her.
Tedjarati’s performance is engaging and heartfelt, though the play would benefit from the guidance of an external director. While she deftly differentiates each character through costume and style, there is potential to further develop the physicality and distinctiveness of each role. The use of sound and music during scene transitions is evocative, yet in a 30-minute show, maintaining the flow onstage without exiting could also strengthen the narrative’s impact.
The play’s thematic core—highlighting the struggle for women’s rights and the personal cost of rebellion in Iran—is powerful. Tedjarati’s portrayal brings a poignant authenticity, informed by her own family’s history of leaving Iran during the first revolution.
A Fire Ignites is a thoughtful and provocative piece that packs a lot into its short runtime. With its strong writing and a compelling central performance, it’s a powerful way to start your Fringe day, leaving you with much to reflect on.
