The Berlin Theater ensemble was supposed to contribute to cultural ties between Iran and Germany by performing Bertolt Brecht's "Mother Courage" in the annual arts festival in Tehran.

However, the project earlier this year faced unprecedented problems ranging from sniffer dogs to confiscated blank cartridge rifles and pistols and eventually the need to change one part of the famous anti-war drama.

"I saw things I had never seen before in my career," said Claus Peymann, director of the Berlin Theater ensemble on the play.

Peymann said that he faced harsh criticism from Iranian dissidents in Germany for his decision to stage play to Iran.

"But didn’t come here to play for the Iranian president (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) or the government but for Iranian theater fans - just as in Berlin, I don’t play for German Chancellor Merkel or Berlin Mayor Wowereit," the director said. "Art speaks another language and can open new little windows."

Near regret

Peymann however almost regretted his decision after he faced in Tehran "exaggerated harsh controls" such as blackening the pictures of women in the theater brochure, checking the text and arguing over the dress code of the actresses.

In Iran all women, including foreigners, have to wear a headscarf and gown to hide hair and body contour and the actresses of the Berlin ensemble were no exception.

According to Peymann, the local organizers, affiliated with the Iranian Culture Ministry, even "forcefully" prohibited German media from interviewing the actresses about their obligation to hide their hair.

"It was like a new Middle Ages," he said. "I felt like a fool." Weapons

The ensemble also had logistic problems, which the director called funny but still serious enough to endanger the first night performance until the last minute.

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