Press releases

MINSK, 13 April (BelTA) – Theater companies from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, and Israel will take part in the Ninth International Festival of Puppet Theaters to be held in the Belarusian capital from 13 to 17 May, Alexei Lelyavsky, the artistic director of the festival, told BelTA.

Alexei Lelyavsky noted that the festival is becoming a platform for demonstrating contemporary puppetry trends. Last year, the forum gathered a big number of Polish theater troupes. This year’s edition will feature many Russian theaters.

Alexei Lelyavsky said that the Belarusian theater companies will present recently staged productions of their own choice. Most of the performances are based on world literature classics.

A number of productions will be premiered at the festival. Mandragora by the Minsk Oblast Puppet Theater Batleika will be one of them. Partaking in the forum will be winners of international festivals, such as Karlsson Haus Theater and Puppet House Theater, Penza.

The program of the forum features exciting and moving performances for children and adults. Productions in foreign languages will be interpreted into Russian.

Theater critics will have an opportunity to discuss the productions during meetings at the Belarusian State Puppet Theater. A workshop about Israeli theaters will be held as part of the forum. The event will be useful for those who stand at the beginning of their creative career and seek an opportunity for self-fulfillment, Alexei Lelyavsky believes. Besides, the festival will feature a music evening Puppet Rock 'n' Roll with pieces specially composed for puppet theaters.

The forum participants will perform at five venues, including the Belarusian State Puppet Theater, the New Drama Theater, the Belarusian Children’s Theater, the Belarusian State Youth Theater, and the small stage of the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater.

The large-scale forum held once in two years will present a total of 14 productions to Minsk residents and guests. Since its establishment, the festival has featured performances by 50 theaters from different parts of the world.

The festival is organized by the Belarusian Culture Ministry, Minsk City Hall, and the Belarusian State Puppet Theater.