The Night of 1001st
Director: Behnam Alibakhshi, 2004
“The Thousand and First Night” by Bahram Beyzaieis a collection of three interconnected one-act plays that explore the origins and transformations of the legendary tales known as “One Thousand and One Nights.”
The narrative weaves together historical and mythical elements, focusing on the story of Zahhak, an ancient Persian king, and his wives, Shahrnaz and Arnavaz. Beyzaie reconstructs the lost tale of Zahhak, suggesting it as the foundational story of the destroyed book “Hezar Afsan” (Thousand Stories), which later evolved into "One Thousand and One Nights.
The first play revisits the untold story of King Zahhak and his wives, while the second play delves into the life of an anonymous translator who converted “Hezar Afsan” from Persian to Arabic, giving it the name “Alf Layla wa Layla” (One Thousand and One Nights). The third play, set closer to modern times, follows a woman who reads “One Thousand and One Nights” and reflects on its impact. Beyzaie’s work is a profound exploration of Iranian cultural heritage, blending historical research with imaginative storytelling to create a rich, multi-layered theatrical experience
