TEHRAN – During the 30th Iranian Children’s and Youth International Theater Festival, currently being held in Hamedan, a performance titled “The Last Lullaby” featured a collection of over 100 handmade dolls and took the audience on an emotional journey through the stories of the children who were martyred in the 12-day war.
The play, written and directed by Hamed Torabi, was performed over three days on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with two performances per day. It was dedicated to honor the memory of innocent children who lost their lives during the war.
The 12-day war took a toll on many Iranian families. Forty-seven children lost their lives during the conflict, including a two-month-old infant and a student.
“After 12 days of war, we decided to create a work that would keep alive the memory of the innocent children who lost their lives in this merciless attack,” said the play’s director.
“The Last Lullaby is a collection of 100 completely handmade dolls collected over the years from different parts of Iran and around the world,” he added.
“Each doll embodies a unique identity, background and cultural heritage, symbolizing one of the children martyred in this tragic war. As the audience enters the space, they walk among these dolls and gradually become immersed in the narrative and emotional depth of the performance. It is a space where the unfinished stories of children of war whisper through these dolls,” he explained.
Speaking about the development process, Torabi said, “When the performance begins, an explosion is heard and images are projected on the cinema screen showing scenes from the 12-day war and related scenes of the children who were sacrificed.The climax occurs when the mother enters and sings the last lullaby for her martyred child.”
According to the director, the producers aim to keep alive the memory of children, potential festival participants whose removal from our lives is a loss for all of us.
In the early morning hours of Friday, June 13th, a series of terrorist attacks by the Zionist regime targeted Tehran and several other Iranian cities. The attacks included missile and drone strikes targeting major military installations, scientific centers, and civilian areas, resulting in casualties of military commanders, scientists, and innocent civilians alike.
In response to the Zionist barbaric attacks, the Islamic Republic of Iran launched Operation Truth Promise 3 on Friday night, inflicting a barrage of missiles into the occupied territories, targeting military bases, infrastructure and strategic locations. The operation was aimed at weakening Israel’s military and demonstrating Iran’s determination to protect its sovereignty. The escalation led to a highly destructive phase of the conflict, with both sides engaging in intense gunfire.
The Israeli attack targeted non-military areas within Iran, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives, including women and children. The incident sparked outrage not only within Iran but also among international observers.
Over the course of 12 days of hostilities, the fighting caused widespread destruction. According to reports, at least a third of Tel Aviv was heavily damaged or destroyed in the Iranian attack. Tehran and other Iranian cities also sustained heavy damage, underscoring the seriousness of the conflict. Civilian casualties and infrastructure damage increased the humanitarian toll and heightened regional instability.
The international reaction to the conflict was significant. US President Donald Trump has reportedly demanded a withdrawal from Tehran and threatened deadly action against Iranian leadership, further complicating diplomatic efforts to calm the situation. The international community is closely monitoring the escalation of the situation, with many countries urging restraint and calling for peace negotiations to prevent further loss of life.
In the aftermath of the war, Iran launched a number of initiatives to commemorate the conflict and pay tribute to those affected. Cultural and artistic events such as exhibitions, festivals, and literary gatherings are being organized to commemorate the martyrs and celebrate Iran’s resilience in the face of adversity. These efforts aim to promote national unity and reflect on the sacrifices made during 12 days of intense fighting.
SAB/