Her education gave her a level of cultural and artistic literacy that would later be noted by her peers. As Parviz Khatibi would later write, she was an educated woman—an attribute that deeply influenced her approach to work, collaboration, and artistic responsibility.
Entrance into Theater
In 1937, Esmat Safavi began her theatrical career with the play “Salome.” This production was staged at the former site of the Tehran Circus, a location that had been repurposed as a performance space during a time when dedicated theaters were still relatively rare. The staging of “Salome” in such a venue reflects the experimental and adaptive nature of Iranian theater at the time.
“Salome” was a demanding work, requiring emotional intensity, physical presence, and psychological depth. Safavi’s participation in this production marked her as an actress willing to take on challenging roles. This early experience set the tone for her career: she would consistently gravitate toward serious, historically rich, and emotionally complex material.
Following this debut, Safavi continued her theatrical journey by working with the National Theater Group, one of the most important theatrical institutions in Iran. Membership in this group was both a recognition of talent and a responsibility, as it involved performing works that contributed to national cultural identity and historical consciousness.
