The popular play 'How Water for Chocolate,' created and staged by Iranian director Ebrahim Poshte Kouhi, will be shown at the Baghdad International Theatre Festival, which will take place from October 10 to 18. This production is based on the world-famous novel by Mexican author Laura Esquivel.
The work, written and directed by Poshte Kouhi, was first presented in Iran in 2013. 'How Water for Chocolate' has previously participated in various theatre events and won awards in categories such as best actress, best music, best set design, and best costume.
Ebrahim Poshte Kouhi is familiar with the Baghdad International Theatre Festival, as two of his other works, 'Macbeth Zaar' and 'Particles of Chaos,' have already received the festival's Grand Prix. Furthermore, the Iranian director has showcased his works at theatre festivals in cities such as Moscow, Munich, St. Petersburg, Shaki, Baku, Yerevan, and Budapest.
Poshte Kouhi's works often incorporate Iranian cultural traditions and performance rituals while striving to connect with an international audience. The plot of 'How Water for Chocolate' tells the story of Tita, a young woman whose love for Pedro is hindered by a family tradition requiring her to remain unmarried and care for her mother. Forced to watch Pedro marry his sister, Tita expresses her feelings through the food she prepares, and her emotions seem to be conveyed in the dishes, influencing those who taste them.
Combining love, family conflict, and magical realism, the story explores how personal experiences and suppressed desires can challenge social and familial norms. Through the interplay of everyday life, memory, and the supernatural, the play offers a poetic depiction of love and resistance to the limitations imposed by tradition.