The Impact of Stage and Costume Design on Creating Mutual Reception Between Performers and Audiences in Iranian Postmodern Plays (Case Study: Mulla Nasreddin Play)

Ghosi, Neda; Pouyan, Ali

doi:10.22034/rpa.2025.2060587.1154

The Impact of Stage and Costume Design on Creating Mutual Reception Between Performers and Audiences in Iranian Postmodern Plays (Case Study: Mulla Nasreddin Play)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Neda Ghosi ¹ ^¶

Ali Pouyan ²

¹ MA in Art Research, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Theater, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.

10.22034/rpa.2025.2060587.1154

Abstract

Postmodern theatre, by breaking away from classical narrative structures and distancing itself from traditional performance methods, emphasizes creating a multifaceted and participatory experience for the audience. In this context, stage and costume design not only serve aesthetic purposes but also play a crucial role in generating meaning, establishing interactive spaces, and guiding audience perception. This study aims to explore the visual potential of stage and costume design in enhancing active engagement between performers and spectators. The necessity of this research lies in the fact that these aspects have rarely been examined in a focused and systematic way within the context of Iranian postmodern theatre. The methodology is qualitative, based on content analysis of the play Molla Nasreddin. Findings indicate that the deliberate and symbolic use of visual elements can create an interpretive and participatory atmosphere, shaping an emotional, cognitive, and interactive experience for the audience. Accordingly, Molla Nasreddin can be regarded as a compelling model of postmodern theatre in which stage and costume design are not merely complementary components but fundamental frameworks for the construction of meaning and experience.

Keywords

Stage Design

Costume Design

Reciprocal Perception

Postmodern Theater

Molla Nasreddin Play

Performer-Audience Interaction

Subjects