Cosi Fan Rudey

Abbas Kiarostami, who was due to direct a production of Cosi Fan Tutte at the Coliseum this summer, has pulled out of the project. The Iranian artist and filmmaker cited the "disrespectful' behaviour of staff at the British Embassy in Tehran, who offered him a less-than warm welcome as he navigated the labyrinthine visa application. Kiarostami is no visa diva: he has worked problem-free in Europe before, and ran a film workshop in London during a 2005 season of his films and artwork (pictured). The production of Cosi Fan Tutte will continue, under the direction of Kiarostami's assistant, while a planned exhibition of his photography at Purdy Hicks will be held at the end of May.