Manouchehr Shoja

Manouchehr Shoja, born in 1968 in Tehran, is widely regarded as one of Iran’s most accomplished and influential stage and television set designers. With a career spanning over three decades, Shoja has become a central figure in Iran’s theatrical scene, renowned for his innovative, evocative designs that push the boundaries of traditional stagecraft.

He holds a degree in stage design from the prestigious Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran. Shoja embarked on his professional journey in theater in 1993, quickly establishing himself as a distinctive and visionary set designer. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with some of the most celebrated and influential figures in Iranian theater, further enhancing his reputation as a master set designer. One of the most notable of these collaborators is Dr. Ali Rafiei, a veteran director and set designer who is a towering figure in Iran’s theater landscape.

Shoja’s work has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including several at the Fajr International Theater Festival, one of Iran’s most prominent cultural events. In addition to his contributions within Iran, Shoja’ has showcased his designs at international festivals and theaters across the globe.

Awards and Honors

  • “Solar Medal” by the Academy of Theater and Cinema Set Designers – Awarded in recognition of his lifelong contributions to the field and his innovative approach to set design.
  • Best Stage Design Award at the Fajr International Theater Festival for the play The Shaky Happiness of the Darkened People 
  • Best Stage Design Award at the Fajr International Theater Festival for The Coolness of the End of Memories 
  • Special Award for Best Stage Design in the international section of the Fajr Theater Festival for Hamlet 
  • Stage Design Prize at the Fajr International Theater Festival for Three Therapy Sessions 

Manouchehr Shoja

Manouchehr Shoja, a theater stage designer, was born in 1969 in Tehran. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Department of Performing Arts at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran (1996). Since 1996, he has been actively involved in stage design for theater and television productions, participating in numerous festivals and international performances both inside and outside Iran. He has collaborated with various theater groups and has received multiple awards in this field.

Awards:

  • Second Place Winner at the Fajr International Theater Festival for “The Unstable Happiness of Miserable People” (2002)
  • First Place Winner in the Television Theater Section of the Fajr International Theater Festival for “Old Blade” (2009)
  • First Place Winner in the Television Theater Section of the Fajr International Theater Festival for “Winter 66” (2009)
  • First Place Winner at the Fajr International Theater Festival for “The Coolness of the End of a Memory” (2010)
  • First Place Winner in the Television Theater Section of the Fajr International Theater Festival for “Journey to Gomesk” (2010)
  • Selected of the Year at Iran’s Ordibehesht Theater (2010)
  • First Place Winner at the Fajr International Theater Festival for “Hamlet” (2013)
  • Stage Design Award Winner at the first edition of the Master Khorshidi Medal (2015)

International Festivals and Performances Outside Iran:

  • The Unstable Happiness of Miserable People – Germany, Mülheim, Theater an der Ruhr (2003)
  • Old Blade – France, Paris, Iran Cultural Week (2006)
  • Unwritten Whispers – Germany, Berlin, Iran Cultural Week (2006)
  • Two Meters by Two Meters War – Germany, Freiburg (2007)
  • Macondo – Belarus, Brest, Belaya Vezha Puppet Festival (2009)
  • Cadence – Germany, Mülheim, Theater an der Ruhr (2009)
  • The Wild Duck – Bangladesh, Dhaka, Ibsen Festival (2009)
  • Drought and Lies – Germany, Mülheim, Theater an der Ruhr (2010)
  • White Like the Moon –
    • Czech Republic, Prague, Puppet Festival (2011)
    • Finland, Imatra (2011)
    • Italy, Treviso-Venice (2011)
  • A Little Bit More Every Day / Ham Havayi
    • France, Paris, Public Performance, Théâtre de la Ville (2016)
    • Turkey, Istanbul, Istanbul Theatre Festival (2017)
    • Belgium, Brussels, Bozar (2017)
    • Austria, Vienna, Wiener Festwochen (2017)
    • Portugal, Lisbon, São Luiz Teatro Municipal (2017)
  • From the Basement to the Roof – Greece, Athens, Athens Epidaurus Festival (2018)
  • Temporary Title, Brusch
    • Germany, Berlin, Kunstakademie Berlin (2023)
    • Germany, Dresden, Hellerau (2023)
  • The Child
    • Germany, Munich, Termeh Festival (2022)
    • Germany, Berlin, HAU Berlin (2024)
    • Germany, Münster, Theater im Pumpenhaus (2024)
    • Kosovo, Prizren, Prizren Fest (2024)