These productions not only provided him with acting experience but also exposed him to diverse dramatic genres—from classical works to contemporary plays, from social realism to experimental theater.
By 1978, as he approached his final year of study, Iran was undergoing dramatic political transformations. Kassabi, like many artists of his generation, found himself at the intersection of personal ambition and national upheaval.
The Revolution and a New Cultural Landscape
The victory of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 dramatically altered the cultural and artistic landscape of the country. The institutions, festivals, and artistic networks that had existed before were either restructured, repurposed, or replaced entirely. For many artists, the period was marked by uncertainty, but also by opportunity—new institutions were being created, new cultural policies implemented, and new narratives encouraged.
