Afra Art Group
IWIN’s Performative Art group, Afra, was founded under direction of Forouzan Jalali in October 2024 through an acting workshop that soon evolved into a larger creative vision. This journey culminated in the staging of New Zealand’s first ever Persian-language theatre production, marking a proud milestone in sharing our culture, creativity, and artistic voice with the wider community.
Forouzan Jalali
Forouzan Jalali is an Iranian artist who now calls New Zealand home. After graduating in Theater Directing from Soureh Art University in Tehran, she built her career primarily in mainstream cinema and television, spending over 20 years working with established directors and actors on major film productions.
Before moving to New Zealand, she was elected to the 5-member board of directors of the Iranian Syndicate of unit production managers and served for 3 years
Forouzan’s artistic practice spans directing, acting, writing, and documentary, with her short films earning international recognition including awards for Best Director, Best Film, and Best Actress at various festivals. Her work consistently explores the intersection of personal narrative and cultural issues, drawing from her experience navigating between Iranian and New Zealand artistic traditions.
Since relocating to New Zealand, she joined the IWIN community and shared her expertise by training aspiring actors in her courses. She founded Afra Art Group, the country’s first Iranian performance group, and in May 2025 directed Auckland’s first Persian-language theater show; a seven-month project that created a new space for Persian arts in New Zealand. Her current projects include teaching acting courses at IWIN and developing the Afra Art Group’s future plans, while serving as a member of the selection committee for the AIFTAA Film Festival.
Her approach is hands-on, collaborative, and always evolving. With a focus on cultural exchange and inventive storytelling, she continues to create work that connects with a wide range of audiences and contributes meaningfully to New Zealand’s artistic landscape.
Connect with Forouzan on Instagram: @ForouzanJalali
Acting Workshops
Our first theatre workshop took place in January 2024, culminating in the successful staging of the play “As is plainly Obvious”, brought to life by the passion and dedication of the group. Our second theatre workshop is now underway and nearing completion, continuing to nurture creativity, self-expression, and collaboration. If you would like to be part of these inspiring programs, we warmly invite you to get in touch with us.
First Farsi Theater
From January to March, the first Iranian theatre production in Auckland, directed by acclaimed theatre director Forouzan Jalali, brought together passionate women in an Acting and Play Workshop that nurtured creativity, self-expression, and collaboration. Volunteers contributed to set design, costumes, and event coordination, making the project more than a performance—it became a celebration of Iranian women’s voices and artistry in Aotearoa, building skills, confidence, and a strong sense of community while exploring themes of identity, memory, and resilience.