Entertainment

City Theater of Tehran

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City Theater of TehranA 1999 2 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
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The City Theater of Tehran is a performing arts complex in the capital of Iran. It contains several performance spaces, including the halls of Cheharsou, Qashqai, Sayeh, the performance studio, and the main hall. The building is cylindrical, 34 meters in diameter and 15 meters high, and sits on a raised platform at the corner of Daneshjoo Park. Its exterior features turquoise tilework and brickwork in repeating geometric patterns derived from traditional Iranian motifs.

Don't miss

  • The surrounding colonnade of elongated columns with three-pointed star-shaped cross-sections, supporting intersecting curved beams that create a projecting canopy.
  • Pointed arches that encircle the building beneath the canopy, with their apexes projecting beyond the main cylindrical body.
  • The semi-circular crown at the top of the structure, with serrated edging that adds visual emphasis to the mass.
  • The contrast between the enclosed interior and the openness of Daneshjoo Park, reinforced by the colonnade acting as a boundary element.
  • The exterior cladding of turquoise tilework and brickwork arranged in geometric patterns derived from traditional Iranian motifs.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit City Theater of Tehran

You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.

Getting there

Know before you go

  • The theater is closed on Saturdays.
  • The building is located at the corner of Daneshjoo Park in Tehran.

A bit of history

The theater was built with the initiative of Shahbanu Farah Pahlavi under the rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. It was designed by architect Ali Sardar Afkhami in the 1960s and opened in 1972. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has overseen its operation.

Common questions

What performance spaces are inside the City Theater?

It contains the halls of Cheharsou, Qashqai, Sayeh, the performance studio, and the main hall.

Who designed the City Theater of Tehran?

It was designed by Iranian architect Ali Sardar Afkhami in the 1960s.

When did the City Theater open?

It opened in 1972.

More attractions in Tehran

Planning your trip to Tehran? See where to eat, more attractions, or build a Tehran itinerary.