Beejan Land (Persian: بیجان لاند; born 1989 in Paddington, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian actor and playwright. He graduated from National Institute of Dramatic Art and Newtown High School of the Performing Arts

Beejan Land
Born1989
Sydney, Australia
Occupation(s)Actor, Producer and Playwright
WebsiteBeejan Land IMDb

Beejan also trained at the L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. Beejan is also a graduate of ACTT's Talented Young Actors' Program, National Institute of Dramatic Art Acting and Playwrighting programs. He also trained at Australian Theatre for Young People.

Early performing life

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Beejan was born in Sydney Australia and is of Iranian/Persian origins. He started his performing career as a young magician. Performing at events and parties he quickly began to develop a name as a magician. In 1998 he was awarded first place Australian Convention of Magicians competition in the Walk on Walk off Section.[1] He then began taking after school acting classes at the Australian Theatre for Young People in 1999. He took classes in Film, Theatre and Voice as well as master classes with other industry professionals. He performed in many productions with them giving him the experience and desire to continue his passions in the field of theatre and film. Mentors at Australian Theatre for Young People included Nick Enright, Victoria Longley, Kate Champion and David Berthold.

Early career

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Beejan's acting debut really came around when he set up ROAR Theatre Company in 2004. An independent theatre company with a drive to combine emerging artists with established professionals in order enhance and develop and Australian voice.[2] A co-production with Darlinghurst Theatre saw him produce and act in a production of Vicious Streaks by Alex Broun he asked Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome director George Ogilvie to direct along with then emerging director Lee Lewis. The production also featured Peter Mochrie and Jacinta John. The same year he was named Australia's Youngest theatre producers,[2] He also won the Sydney Theatre Company's Young Playwrights Award.[3]

Career

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Beejan was asked by the Melbourne Theatre Company to perform in their main-stage production of The History Boys written by Alan Bennett and directed by Peter Evans. The production played a sold out season at The Arts Centre. The production featured other Australian actors such as Matthew Newton, Ashley Zukerman and Ben Geurens.

Beejan has performed in stage plays by William Shakespeare, Michael Gow, David Hare, Bertold Brecht, Debra Oswald, Ned Manning, Cyril Tourneur, Thomas Middleton, Alfred Jarry, Alex Broun, Mark Ravenhill, Tommy Murphy, Nazım Hikmet Ran, Frank Marcus, Alan Bennett, Tony Kushner and José Rivera

In 2004 he co-starred in The Black Balloon director Elissa Down's Tropfest short film Summer Angst. He also guest starred in an episode of the Australian medical drama series All Saints (TV series)

In 2005 he toured to Northern Ireland performing in Debra Oswald's Skate at the Belfast Festival at Queens.

As a Playwright his own plays have been performed by Griffin Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company and Tamarama Rock Surfers.

2008 saw Beejan join Wayne Hope, Kym Gyngell and the cast of Australian comedy series Very Small Business (TV series) as Taxation Officer, Lynton McGyver

In 2009 he joined the world-famous theatre troupe LeThéâtre du Soleil to continue his research and experience in the theatrical arts.

After a forceful nudge by world-renowned Theatre director Ariane Mnouchkine Beejan decided to undertake further studies at L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq at the same time as creating a new work with the Théâtre du Soleil. Beejan has since been with the company.

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
2015 Rock the Kasbah Daoud Sididi (Support Lead) Feature Film Dir: Barry Levinson
2014 Damn Foreigners Massoud (Lead) Feature Film
NCIS: Los Angeles Agent Farhad (Recurring) TV series
Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark Roy Feature Film
2013 Les Naufragés du Fol Espoir (Aurores) Monsieur Theodore Feature film Dir: Ariane Mnouchkine
The Last Goodbye Henri Feature Film Dir: Samantha Rebillet
2012 L'affaire Gordji Ambassadeur TV movie
2008 Very Small Business Lynton McGyver TV Comedy
Close Distance Ali Short Film AFTRS
2004 All Saints Tom Hudson TV series
Life Support Timothy TV series
Summer Angst Matthew Short Film Tropfest Finalist Dir: Elissa Down
2007 Four Corners Muhamed Haneef TV Feature
2001 Contact David Short Film – NSW FTO

Theatre

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Year Play Role Company
2009 -2013 Les Naufrages du Fol Espoir Company member Théâtre du Soleil
2009 Vincent River Davey Tamarama Rock Surfers
2008 Terror on the Northside Mike Rag and Bone
Angels in America Prior Walter/Man in the Park New Theatre (Newtown)
References To Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot Martin Independent production
2007 The History Boys Akthar Melbourne Theatre Company
Spring Awakening Hanchen Rilow Hayloft Project
2006 The Revengers Tragedy Spurio/Junior Shakespeare's Globe
A Beautiful Life Amir New Theatre (Newtown)
Gift of the Gun Ben George Ogilvie
2005 Skate by Debra Oswald Mitchell Belfast Festival at Queens
2004 Vicious Streaks Ben/Matt Darlinghurst Theatre
Mr Puntila and his Man Matti The Envoy ATYP / Wharf Theatre
Norma Novice Opera Australia dir: George Ogilvie
Alice Dreaming Pommy Cop/Baby/Mr Speaker ATYP / Wharf Theatre
OUT/SIDE/IN Ensemble ATYP / Wharf Theatre
2003 Skylight by David Hare Edward Sergeant New Theatre (Newtown)
What the Umbrella did Next The Shaving Man Dir: Christopher Hurrell
Skate by Debra Oswald Mitchell NSW and VIC regional tour
2002 Kinderspiel Ensemble Sydney Festival Sydney Opera House
Taming of the Shrew Lucentio NIDA
The Greeks Priam/Protoculus NIDA
Inek: The Cow The Child SideTrack Theatre

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2010 Molière Award Best Acting of Ensemble Show "Les Naufragés du Fol Espoir at Théâtre du Soleil" Won
2003–04 Sydney Theatre Company Young Playwright's Award "Best Play"' The Arrival Won
1998 Australian Magic Champion "Walk on Walk off under 30s"' Magician Won
1997 Australian Yo-Yo Champion "Coca Cola Yo Yo Competition "' Yo Yo Won

References

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  1. ^ "1998 – 26th Australian Convention of Magicians – June 5–8, 1998 " Australian National Magic Conventions". Ausmagicon.wordpress.com. 27 February 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Not waiting for Godot – Arts". smh.com.au. 18 August 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  3. ^ "smh.com.au – The Sydney Morning Herald". Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. 20 November 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
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