The Current Iranian playwright Ava Alavi on her fears for her country
Mar 26, 2026
Ava Alavi, an Iranian playwright whose new play Sound responds to the Woman Life Freedom movement, talks about arriving in Canada as protests erupted. She describes weaving personal and generational stories into geopolitical theatre. Short scenes explore identity, collective resistance, family separation and the risks of speaking out.
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Use Art To Bridge Emotional Distance
- Ava wrote Sound to raise awareness among non-Iranians, urging artists to translate personal stories into accessible forms.
- She planned the play to bridge emotional distance so outsiders grasp the movement's human impact.
Writing From Exile After Mahsa Amini's Death
- Ava Alavi began writing Sound immediately after arriving in Canada as Mahsa Amini died and protests erupted.
- She wrote to amplify stories she couldn't reach physically, transforming anger at being stuck abroad into theatre.
Generational Patterns Explain Current Anger
- Ava traced her anger through layers of history, linking today's Woman Life Freedom Movement to earlier revolutions and generational repression.
- She found recurring patterns of women's voices being muted across decades, not isolated incidents.