CV
Saina Seraj
Director and Researcher
As an emerging artist, I am looking for new, different ways to communicate with my audience. For this purpose, I try to use puppets, objects, music, & light more creatively. I believe that there is no difference between actor's theatre & puppetry. So, we shouldn't limit ourselves to formal categories.
EDUCATION
M.F.A in Theater Directing
Aug. 2023-Now
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, United States
B.A. in Puppetry
Jan. 2014 - Feb. 2019
University of Tehran, College of Fine Arts, Tehran, Iran
Theoretical Thesis: Using Magnetic Abilities to Create Magic in Puppetry - Supervisor: Dr. Shiva Masoudi
Practical Project: Osgood Schlatter
Pre-university degree in Art
Sep. 2012 - Oct. 2013
Shahid Avini 2 Art School, Tehran, Iran
High school diploma in Mathematics & Physics
Sep. 2009 - Mar. 2012
Mohajer-e-Iravani High School, Tehran, Iran
Tohid Boarding High School, Tehran, Iran
WORKSHOPS ATTENDED
9 - 10 Dec. 2015
The Personal Storytelling of People through Papers; taught by Mr. Gary Friedman - Molavi Hall, Tehran, Iran
1 - 6 Oct. 2015
Paper World; taught by Mr. Gary Friedman - Held at the 22nd International Children & Youth Theater Festival, Hamedan, Iran
27 Jul. - 16 Aug. 2015
Creating; taught by Mr. Makan Ashgvari - Azadi Plateau Complex, Tehran, Iran
11 - 25 Apr. 2015
Actor the Source of Image & Music; taught by Mr. Jatcek Timingeriu & Mrs. Katarzyna Timingeriu - Held with the invitation of the "Av" Theater Group in Dārbast Platform, Mohsen Gallery, Tehran, Iran
Jul. - Oct. 2014
Factory; taught by Mr. Makan Ashgvari & Ms. Sarah Feli - Azadi Plateau Complex, Tehran, Iran
4 - 6 Jan. 2014
Enter practice / Enter performance; taught by Ms. Katerina Bakatsaki - Held with the collaboration of the Art University of Tehran & the Utrecht University, Tehran, Iran
HAND-ON SKILLS
Doll Making & Sculpting with Wood
Professional Cooking
Soldering (stand glass technique)
LANGUAGES
Farsi | Native
English | Advanced (IELTS Overall: 7)
Italian | Advanced
HOBBIES
Listening to music
Learning about the Environment & Wildlife
Studying Art History
PERFORMANCE TEXT
Last Edition: Aug. 2021
Patterns Swallow Us
Written for self-performing by my own directing
**The performance was canceled because of protest movements in Iran
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
March. 2025
MFA Directing Heightened Language Performance
"The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare
April. 2024
MFA Directing Qualifier Performances
"Not I" by Samuel Beckett
"A Marriage Proposal" by Anton Chekhov
Aug. 2023 - May. 2025
Content Creator on Social Media, SIU School of Theater and Dance
Aug. 2023 - May. 2024
Working in the Prop Shop, SIU School of Theater and Dance
Apr. 2022 - Now
Podcasting Narrator & Host
"Shonoud" Podcast, Home Studio, Tehran, Iran
Sep. 2017 - 2023
Designing & Making Vintage Dolls
"Rosemary Room" Project, Home Studio, Tehran, Iran
Oct. - Nov. 2020
Director & Sound Designer & Object Manipulator in the "Incessant" Offline Performance
Home Studio, Tehran, Iran
Jan. - Feb. 2019
Director, Puppet & Accessories Creator, & Puppeteer in
the "Osgood Schlatter" Performance
Tehran University of Art, Tehran, Iran
Apr. - May 2017
Actor in the "Responsibility for Breaking the Absolute
Silence" Theater
The Main Hall of Molavi Hall, Tehran, Iran
Jun. - Aug. 2016
Puppeteer in the "Gonbad be Doosh" (The Dome on the Shoulders) Theater
The Qashqai Hall of City Theater, Tehran, Iran
Oct. - Nov. 2014
Actor in the "Nectar" Theater
Azadi Cultural Complex, Tehran, Iran
TEACHING EXPERIENCES
22 Jun. - 21 Dec 2019
Teacher Assistant & Theater Facilitator in the Walnut Peel Breaking Workshop. (Teaching life etiquette through theater to children & adolescents)
Pichazi Art House, Tehran, Iran
22 Nov. 2015 - 20 Jun. 2016
Theater Teacher in primary school
Rah-e-Roshd Cultural & Educational Cooperative
Company, Tehran, Iran
FESTIVALS
Nov. 2020
2nd Young Unima International Festival, Tehran, Iran
VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES
Jul. - Sep. 2021
Teaching English Language to deprived students; Kalporagan School - Kalporagan Village, Iran
9-10 Dec. 2017
Simultaneous Interpreter (English to Persian; vice versa) in the workshop, Personal Narration of People through Papers.
Molavi Hall, Tehran, Iran