Sanaz Toossi’s English is a nuanced and richly layered play that explores the intricacies of identity, language, and personal ambition in a globalized world. The Vienna Theatre Project is now staging the play at Theater Drachengasse, offering an intimate, humourous, and poignant look at the lives of four language students in 2008 Karaj, Iran.
Winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Obie Award for Best New American Play, English is a brilliant comedy brought to the stage by the Vienna Theatre Project. The play centers on Omid, Elham, Goli, and Roya, four Iranian students from different walks of life, attending a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) class under the tutelage of teacher Marjan, in Karaj, Iran. Marjan, who prohibits speaking Farsi in class, navigates the students through their language lessons.
At its core, English is about more than just learning a new language—it’s about the hopes and dreams tied to that learning. The four characters, all of whom are at different stages in their lives, are motivated by their desire to escape the limitations of their surroundings. Some dream of the opportunity for a better life abroad, others are driven by a desire to study abroad, but all of them share the same wish to improve their futures by mastering this difficult new language. The play reveals the complexity of this quest, showing that the mastery of English is not just about grammar and vocabulary—it’s also about access to another view of the world.
The play is set in a modest classroom, and while this setting initially seems unassuming, it gradually becomes a venue where a larger societal struggle is clear. The classroom functions as a space of transformation—not just linguistically, but personally and politically. We witness attraction and disappointment, fights and lies, but also fun and joy in this little microcosm.
Toossi’s writing blends humour with introspection, creating a play that can make you laugh one moment (what with translating Ricky Martin songs and students grappling with pronunciation) and think deeply the next. The students—an eclectic group—are portrayed with a mix of emotional sincerity and light-heartedness, making it easy for the audience to connect with their various aspirations. At the same time, English explores the hidden undercurrents of class, status, and cultural conflict. The characters are confronting the assumptions others hold about them because of where they come from, and, like science student Elham and even their teacher Marjan, even end up redefining their own understanding of who they are.
Through its quiet yet powerful storytelling, this play explores how learning a foreign language can symbolize personal transformation, challenge identities, and create pathways to new opportunities.
Under the direction of Joanna Godwin-Seidl (cover image), the production maintains a pace that balances humour and sentiment. The Vienna Theatre Project production captures the subtle emotional texture of the play, thanks to strong performances from the cast. The ensemble brings the diverse perspectives of the characters to life in a way that makes them both relatable and complex. Each actor conveys a sense of quiet yearning and personal conflict, making it impossible not to empathize with their individual struggles.
I found the actors’ energy exhilarating, and the intimate theatre space at Theater Drachengasse is used effectively to bring the audience close to the characters’ personal stories.
Set in 2008 Iran, a period where the political and social climates were shifting, the play also subtly engages with the socio-political context in Iran and the region. It raises important questions about access, opportunity, and the ways in which global power structures affect personal lives. The hope for a better future through language—symbolized by English—is ultimately a reflection of the desire for freedom, personal agency, and self-determination.
Cultural Relevance
At its heart, English is not only a play about language—it’s a commentary on the forces of globalization and how individuals try to navigate a world that often seems out of their reach. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt the need to learn a new language or assimilate into a new culture. The characters in English are both deeply specific in their Iranian context and universally relatable in their aspirations to change their lives. For many, this will resonate as a commentary on migration, the importance of education, and the role language plays in shaping our identities.
English at Theater Drachengasse is an excellent production that offers a powerful look at the intersection of language, identity, and ambition. The play’s combination of humour and heartfelt emotion, paired with standout performances and a thoughtful exploration of culture and personal growth, makes it a must-see for English-loving theatre aficionados in Vienna. This poignant play will leave a lasting impression on its audience, sparking conversations about language, belonging, and the universal quest for self-improvement.
The play runs at Theater Drachengasse, Vienna, until February 27, 2025. Performances take place at 8 PM on select dates. Tickets are available through the theatre website or by email to karten@drachengasse.at
It was my privilege to photograph the dress rehearsal and later see the premiere.
DRESS REHEARSAL PHOTOS © KARIN SVADLENAK-GOMEZ
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