Kassabi’s theater journey began at the extraordinarily young age of thirteen. His entry into the Southern Youth Palace in Rah-e-Ahan Square marked the true beginning of his artistic life. Youth Palaces in Iran functioned as important cultural institutions that nurtured young talent in arts, literature, sports, and social activities. With their workshops, amateur theater troupes, and community-oriented initiatives, they played a significant role in shaping future actors, directors, writers, and musicians.
Within the Southern Youth Palace, Kassabi joined a theater group that served as his first real training ground. There, surrounded by dedicated instructors and peers who shared a passion for the stage, he learned the basics of performance, voice projection, movement, improvisation, and the fundamentals of dramatic structure. These experiences embedded in him the discipline and craft that would later define his professional identity.
As he grew older, Kassabi’s interest in theater strengthened rather than diminished. By the early 1970s, at a time when Iran was witnessing major social changes and cultural expansions, he was ready to pursue theater more seriously. Yet, his path took an unexpected turn.
