ExPats Theatre Brings Award-Winning Austrian-Iranian Drama Pressure to DC

ExPats Theatre is bringing a bold new voice in European drama to Washington, D.C. this March with the American premiere of Pressure, the debut play by Austrian-Iranian writer Arad Dabiri. The production opens Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Atlas Performing Arts Center's Lab II space and runs through April 5. Translated and directed by Karin Rosnizeck, the production is supported by the Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Pressure presented by ExPats Theatre at Atlas Performing Arts Center

Set in present-day Vienna, Pressure tells the story of a young man from an Iranian immigrant family who is arrested after one shady deal too many and left waiting in his cell for sentencing. The arrest splits his siblings down the middle. His sister Shirin, who is university-educated and professionally successful, sees it as the long-overdue consequence of her brother's refusal to integrate. Her brother Hassan, along with his friends Omar, Murat, and Freddie, sees it very differently — as a case of racial profiling and the arbitrary violence of a system that never gave them a real chance. Determined to channel their frustration into something meaningful, the young men organize a demonstration against racism and right-wing populism, but when outside agitators show up, things spiral out of control.

Dabiri's writing is anything but conventional. His text pulses with rap-like rhythms layered alongside lyrical monologues, poetic wordplay, and razor-sharp precision. By presenting multiple voices and sharply contrasting perspectives, Pressure plays with audience expectations and prejudices, opening up new spaces for debate around identity politics, national belonging, personal responsibility, and collective guilt.

The play has already earned significant recognition in Europe. Pressure (originally titled Druck!) won the prestigious Heidelberger Stückemarkt Festival in 2024, where the jury called it "topical, profound, and highly relevant," praising Dabiri's ability to "illuminate the complex dynamics of our society, starting with racism and classism, while reflecting on both the individual and structural challenges of our time." The award also named Dabiri "Newcomer Author of the Year" by the German theatre magazine Theater Heute. The play premiered at the State Theatre Mannheim in Germany and was subsequently produced at the State Theatre in Nuremberg. Beyond the stage, Dabiri studied Comparative Literature at the University of Vienna and has made his mark in fiction as well — his first novel, Drama (2023), won the Austrian Book Prize for Best Debut, and his second novel, Gloria, an ironic exploration of Vienna's arts scene, has received widespread critical acclaim.

Playwright Arad Dabiri will be in attendance on opening night and will participate in a post-show talkback following the Sunday, March 15 matinee at 2:30 p.m.

The cast of Pressure features Alie Karambash as Hassan, Ege Yalcinbas as Shirin, Sacha Marvin as Murat, Max Jackson as Freddie, and Elijah Williams as Omar. The creative team includes Karin Rosnizeck as director and translator, Danielle Hatcher as stage manager, Tennessee Dixon as set and projection designer, Ian Claar as lighting designer, Donna Breslin as costume designer, Nardia Strowbridge as sound designer, and Laura Artesi as movement director and choreographer.

Pressure runs March 14 through April 5 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, Lab II, located at 1333 H St. NE in Washington, D.C.