Under The Shadow, originally a film by Babak Anvari, has been adapted into a stage production set in 1988 Iran, during a period of totalitarian rule. The story centers on Shideh, a mother barred from pursuing her medical studies due to political blacklisting, as she navigates daily life under oppressive conditions. With her husband away fighting in the war, Shideh passes time watching illicit Jane Fonda workout videos alongside her disaffected daughter, while tensions rise in their bomb-damaged apartment complex.

The narrative takes a supernatural turn when an Iraqi shell strikes their building, unleashing an unseen presence that begins to haunt the family. The play employs elements of horror, drawing comparisons to The Exorcist through its use of eerie soundscapes and sudden scares. This haunting is also interpreted as a symbolic representation of how the repressive regime drains the spirit and autonomy of its citizens.

Leila Farzad leads the cast as Shideh, portraying the character’s frustration and resilience with nuance. Erin Jemmotte plays the daughter, effectively conveying the child’s rebelliousness and distress, particularly through a subplot involving her missing doll, which hints at darker forces at work. Despite these strengths, the adaptation, directed by Carmen Nasr, has been noted to move at a sluggish pace, occasionally diminishing the impact of the story. However, when the supernatural elements engage fully, the production delivers moments of heightened tension that captivate the audience.

Overall, Under The Shadow’s stage version seeks to blend horror with political allegory, illustrating the personal and societal costs of living under an authoritarian regime. While the transition from film to theatre introduces some challenges in pacing and dramatic flow, performances and atmospheric touches help to maintain the work’s unsettling tone.