ED2016 3/5 Reviews ED2016 Theatre Reviews

Just Let The Wind Untie My Perfumed Hair…Or Who Is Tahirih? (Joanne Hartstone)

By Hannah Greenstreet | Published on Tuesday 16 August 2016

Have you heard of Tahirih? Delia Olam’s solo show (co-written with Hera Whinfield) tells the story of this nineteenth-century Persian poetess, who was executed for refusing to wear a veil and for calling for equality between the sexes and religions. Olam embodies various characters to talk about Tahirih, from her father to her executioner. We never hear from Tahirih directly, except through her hauntingly beautiful poetry, set to music and sung by Olam from behind a curtain. This clever device conveys the restrictions women faced on their behaviour. Although the story is fascinating, I couldn’t help feeling that the play could have done with a few more actors, as the characters are not sufficiently delineated.

Assembly George Square, until 29 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Hannah Greenstreet]