Press releases

MINSK, 15 May (BelTA) – The 8TH Belarusian International Festival OF Puppet Theaters opened in Minsk on 14 May. The first performance was William Shakespeare’s Hamlet by the Mogilev regional puppet theater, BelTA has learned.

The opening ceremony was attended by First Deputy Culture Minister of Belarus Irina Driga, Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Hall Igor Karpenko, and the deputy head of the ideology, culture and youth affairs department of the Minsk City Hall Vitalina Rudikova.

Welcoming the guests, Irina Driga said that each major cultural event has its own codeword. For the Minsk festival of puppet theaters this word is "joy". The festival provides professionals an opportunity to demonstrate their achievements, share experiences, and viewers to see the international dramatic art heritage, added Irina Driga.

Igor Karpenko said he is happy that the puppetry festival got co-located with the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. According to him, the theatrical festival will make a great opportunity for numerous guests of the ice hockey championship.

The 8th Belarusian International Festival of Puppet Theaters will last five days. During this time, the audience will see 14 performances from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Italy, Poland, and Israel.

The festival will have three venues: the Belarusian State Puppet Theater, the New Drama Theatre and the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater.

The Belarusian International Festival of Puppet Theaters is held once every two years. Minsk hosted the forum in 1990, 1993, 1995, and 1999. After a hiatus the festival reopened in 2008 and then was held in 2010 and 2012. Over the years the festival has seen the productions from more than 20 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden and Finland.

The organizers are the Culture Ministry of Belarus, Minsk City Hall, and the Belarusian State Puppet Theater.