Blind Runner Play Opens in Costa Mesa
The production explores the physical toll of a 38-kilometer run for local runners and theatergoers.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Running
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The Mehr Theatre Group production of Blind Runner has opened on the Julianne Argyros Stage in Costa Mesa. This West Coast debut performance, which runs through November 8, features English supertitles for the Persian-language play.
Why it matters
The play brings a focus to the physical and psychological toll of long-distance running, centered on a 38-kilometer Channel Tunnel journey. It offers an artistic look at endurance and human limitation for local runners and theatergoers.
The production depicts a 38-kilometer endurance feat, serving as a narrative exploration of long-distance running. While the script focuses on the experience of the run, the specific physiological demands placed on the performers remain an internal aspect of the stage craft.
The players
South Coast Repertory
A Costa Mesa-based theater institution hosting the West Coast debut of the production.
Mehr Theatre Group
The production company responsible for the original play Blind Runner.
Amir Reza Koohestani
The writer and director of the play who explores themes of human endurance.
Mohammad Aghebati
A lead performer in the production who depicts the physical experience of the run.
Ainaz Azarhoush
A lead performer in the production who portrays the endurance narrative on stage.
The details
Written and directed by Amir Reza Koohestani, the play utilizes the physical medium of the stage to convey the intensity of its central 38-kilometer run. Performers Mohammad Aghebati and Ainaz Azarhoush lead the production, which is performed in Persian with English supertitles to ensure accessibility. The staging at South Coast Repertory was developed in association with the University of California, Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Arts.
Timeline
October 28, 2026: Opening night of Blind Runner at South Coast Repertory.
November 8, 2026: Final scheduled performance of Blind Runner.
Health Landscape
The production's partnership with the Claire Trevor School of the Arts Department of Drama follows a trend of regional theaters collaborating with academic institutions to bring international performance art to local stages. This engagement underscores the growing integration of physical endurance narratives into contemporary performing arts.
Local runners may find the play's depiction of a 38-kilometer feat a compelling look at the mental and physical persistence required for long-distance efforts. If you are interested in the physiological aspects of endurance training, consider discussing your own training goals with a fitness professional or coach.
The takeaway
The production highlights the intense nature of long-distance running through a 38-kilometer narrative lens. If you are inspired by the endurance depicted, speak with a trainer about building your own sustainable, long-distance running plan.
Further reading
For more on the intersection of athletics and endurance, visit Running.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Broadway World.
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