After a successful 28-year run in Lahore, the three-day event is set to take place in the city by the sea later this month.
Performing arts has not been given as much attention as it deserve (in Pakistan) but whatever work is being done in the field is (often) commendable. There are several notable efforts to promote art with dedication that have somewhat helped putting it on the map.
One of these initiatives was taken almost three decades ago and is still being nurtured with the aim to celebrate puppetry in Pakistan.
The Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop (RPTW) that spearheads this movement annually recently announced that the 29th edition of the International Puppet Festival is coming to Karachi. Held in Lahore for the last 28 years, its upcoming edition will be hosted by the city of lights.
A press conference was held in this regard last weekend, at the Karachi Arts Council, with the Mayor of Karachi Wasim Akhtar as the chief guest. It was announced that the festival will take place from February 7 till February 9, 2020, at Bagh Ibne Qasim in Karachi. It aims to cater to both children and adults.
Puppet theatre groups in Pakistan participating in the three day affair include RPTW, Al Hamra Lahore Puppet Theatre, PNCA Islamabad Puppet Theatre, Asghar Bahawalpuri Puppet Theatre, Jameel Folk Puppet Theatre (traditional), Aziz Folk Puppet Theatre (traditional) and Juggling Act.
The Puppet Theatre groups who have come from abroad are Moth Theatre from United Kingdom and Kabare Pupala from Germany.
The upcoming edition will also feature other activities including Magic Show, Story Telling Session, Art Camp, Puppet Making Workshop by Yamina Peerzada, Face Painting and other interactive games.
In addition, the attendees will also get to witness two outdoor acts; Puppet Mascot Parade and Folk Music Concert with fire dancers.
“Rafi Peer has been actively involved with puppet workshops for children and young adults across Pakistan in schools and festivals,” said Saadaan Peerzada, Festival Director and CEO of Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop. “We use puppetry as a tool for education and social awareness and, this year, we are more than thrilled to have the 29th International Puppet Festival take place in Karachi, for the very first time.
After many successful runs in Lahore, our hope has been to bring this festival to Karachi every year. And a big thank you goes out to Mr. Wasim Akhtar, Mayor of Karachi, for his tremendous support without which this festival would not have been possible at the beautiful venue that Bagh Ibne Qasim is.”
Over the past three decades, RPTW has hosted 28 Puppet Festivals, with 150 puppet theatre companies showcasing work from all around the world.
