'Feathers of Fire': Persian shadow puppetry goes global

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A stage production that combines puppetry, art and history is drawing big crowds in the US and around the world. "Feathers of Fire" is a shadow play, inspired by an ancient Persian poem. After the US - the show is coming to China. CGTN's Asieh Namdar sat down to talk with the director in New York City.

"Feathers of Fire," simply put - is a show like no other. A spectacular shadow theater production- playing to sold-out crowds in the US, Asia and Europe. Its creator is award winning filmmaker, designer, and illustrator, Hamid Rahmanian, born and educated in Iran.

HAMID RAHMANIAN CREATOR AND DIRECTOR, 'FEATHERS OF FIRE' "160 puppets, with 8 actors and 137 animated backgrounds and it's performed in a giant screen."

It's based on the ancient Persian Epic "Shahnameh" or "the book of kings", a masterpiece written more than a thousand years ago by one of the world's great poets - Ferdowsi.

HAMID RAHMANIAN CREATOR AND DIRECTOR, 'FEATHERS OF FIRE' "This is the fairy tale that in Western world can compare to the Rapunzel or Romeo and Juliet and Jungle Book."

And as a team "Feathers of fire" will head to Paris, Beijing and Shanghai this year in hopes of dazzling crowds there.

HAMID RAHMANIAN CREATOR AND DIRECTOR, 'FEATHERS OF FIRE' (Asieh: "Why China?") "They have a flourishing tradition, uh, beautiful. You have to see the craftsmanship of some of these puppets shadow in China, it's just mind-blowing."

A unique form of storytelling - years of planning - excruciating 17-hour days that Rahamian says come with a price.

HAMID RAHMANIAN CREATOR AND DIRECTOR, 'FEATHERS OF FIRE' "Making art is love - it's like having a lover. you have to be ready to die for her."

But for Rahmanian - an Iranian-American - it's also about something bigger.

HAMID RAHMANIAN CREATOR AND DIRECTOR, 'FEATHERS OF FIRE' "When they leave this theater they're leaving with something their soul has been cleaned - they washed their souls, they have something to compare with. They go sit down in front of the TV and hear something bad about Middle East or Iran. Now, they have something good to compare with."

Opening hearts and minds, and entertaining crowds - one performance at a time. Asieh Namdar. CGTN, New York.