Bijan Mofid
Biography & Awards
Bijan Mofid, playwright, theatre director, and actor
Bijan Mofid (1935–1984) was a playwright, director, actor, and composer whose works broke every ticket sales record in the history of Iranian theater.
Born into a Tehran family at the heart of Iran’s cultural modernization — his father the founding figure of European-style theater in Iran, his mother a pioneering school principal — Mofid grew up immersed in literature, music, and performance. He channeled that inheritance into a body of work unlike anything before it: bitter allegorical satire rooted in Persian folk tales, scored with original music, and sharp with social criticism that spoke equally to intellectuals and the general public.
His masterpiece, “City of Tales” (Shahr-e-Qaseh), was performed continuously for nearly five years across Iran and remains to this day the most frequently staged Persian play in history.
1953
Third Prize — National Fine Arts Competition
Awarded by the Fine Arts Department of Iran for the play “The Dolls” — one of his earliest recognized works
1953
Theater Scholarship — New York University
Received a prestigious international scholarship from NYU, a rare recognition for an Iranian artist of his generation
1967
Record-Breaking Stage Run — City of Tales
After two years on stage, recorded at Studio Eleven of Iranian National Television — the first Iranian play to receive this distinction.
1968
Triumph at the Second Shiraz Art Festival
Performance of “City of Tales” brought unprecedented national and international acclaim, cementing his status as Iran’s foremost playwright.
1967–1972
Most Performed Persian Play in History
“City of Tales” was performed for nearly five years across Iran, holding the all-time record for the most frequently staged Persian-language play at home and abroad
1971–1977
International Festival Recognition — Children's Theater
His children’s plays were staged at prestigious festivals in Germany, England, Japan, Australia, and Jordan — among the first Iranian works for young audiences to reach international stages
Mission & vision:
The Bijan Mofid Heritage Society was founded on the 40th anniversary of his death in 2024.
Bijan Mofid’s influence on modern Persian language, literature, theater, and intellectual growth is undeniable. He is closely tied to some of Iran’s most vibrant yet tumultuous decades, during which government support revitalized Iran’s seven classical art forms.
However, the regime change of 1979 destabilized these efforts, as artistic expression faced censorship, criminalization, and systematic erasure.
Despite over 40 years of repression, Bijan Mofid’s name and works endure. They continue to be studied, both in Iran and abroad, by students of Persian literature, albeit sometimes even in secret. With no support from his homeland, his legacy is preserved through the creation of the Bijan Mofid Heritage Society. Established by his immediate family, the society serves as both a guardian of the past and a catalyst for the future for Iranians and enthusiasts of Persian culture worldwide.
The Bijan Mofid Heritage Society is dedicated to preserving the legacy of this cultural icon, providing access to those interested. By deepening our understanding of our shared past, we can better envision a unified future.
Repertoire
From Tehran's stages to the world — explore the works of Bijan Mofid
As Etiam Mauris in Augue Eleifend Porttitor
As Purus Mauris in Aliquam Est Pretium
As Velit in Magna Justo