With the play Marjan - the last lion of Afghanistan, the French theater collective Compagnie HDH presents a poetic puppet show based on the true story of the lion Marjan, who became a symbol of the courage of the Afghan people.

Description

The young lion is two years old when he is brought to Afghanistan as a gift from Germany in 1978. Because of his uniqueness and beauty, his keepers affectionately call him "Marjan" (Persian for "coral"). Kabul Zoo is one of the most beautiful zoos in the region, an oasis of abundance and peace in the middle of the city. Marjan grows up admired by everyone. Together with his lioness Chucha and his keeper Sher Agha, Marjan leads a happy life.

But just one year later, war breaks out in Afghanistan - the lives of the zoo's animals change abruptly and soon Marjan the lion also has to feel the terrible effects of the long war. He experiences the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, the civil war and finally the Taliban's reign of terror. He experiences violence, starvation, injustice and humiliation - and yet he never gives up. 

The touching life story of Marjan the lion, which is about love and bravery in difficult times, is told here for children and their families with humor and poetry. Serious topics such as war, famine, justice and freedom are brought closer to children and adults in this play with sensitivity. 

This will be followed by an audience discussion with the puppeteers and the director.
 

Origin of the play

The old man Sher Agha finds himself at Roissy Airport in France in August 2021. Just like Abdul Haq and Farhad, two puppeteers, he has been evacuated from Afghanistan. In conversation with the old man, Abdul Haq and Fahrad learn that Sher Agha worked for many years as an animal keeper at Kabul Zoo. He tells them the life story of the lion Marjan, who witnessed the successive political upheavals in Afghanistan and has become an important symbol of bravery and justice for the people there.


A production by the Compagnie HDH - Hasards d'Hasards (FR). 

Director: Mélanie Depuiset 
Text: Guilda Chahverdi 
Sound design/music: Julie Rousse 
Stage design: Anaïde Nayebzadeh 

With the actors/puppeteers: Abdul Haq Haqjoo, Farhad Yaqubi 

Design and production of the puppets: Abdul Haq Haqjoo, Farhad Yaqubi 
Lighting design: Mathieu L'Haridon 
Stage management/technology: Guillaume Ohrel 
Translation into German from French/Coaching: Jeanne Klein, Dorothee Schmidt 
Coaching: Sharon Amir, Muriel Brault