@ Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Sun 25 October 2015

The eager audience at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival this evening were expecting a performance called ‘An evening at the Jemaa el-Fnaa Square‘, but due to unfortunate circumstances the Moroccan storytellers could not make the trip to Edinburgh. The disappointment was short lived as a repeat performance of the storytelling show ‘Iran vs Israel‘ stood up as a worthy replacement.

Iran vs Israel follows Israeli storyteller Raphael Rodan and Dutch Iranian storyteller Sahand Sahebdivani as they bond over a game of backgammon. Despite their different backgrounds they find common ground when discussing family events and the art of socialising over food. Both Rodan and Sahebdivani eloquently describe the magnificent smells, the explosive tastes and the proud cultures they come from. Family, storytelling, music, poetry and civic pride are parallels in both the performers upbringings. As the performance progresses the storytellers combine music, song and words which enhances the personal nature of the stories and takes the audience to distant locations far from the Netherbow Theatre in the Scottish Storytelling Centre. The performers paint a bright and nostalgic image of their hometowns and it is almost possible to taste the food and hear the chatter at the family gathering they brilliantly describe.

The final third of Iran vs Israel takes a different tact and the mood changes. The restrained relationship between the two cultures comes to the fore as the personal reflections that the performers previously expressed takes a back seat. However the common bond of storytelling is a strong one and the conclusion is touching heartfelt and poignant. Iran vs Israel is a show about storytelling and how different narratives can touch different people in many ways. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival looks to bring performers and storytellers from around the world to Edinburgh to present Stories without Borders. Iran vs Israel exemplifies this through brilliant and visceral spoken word theatre.