Tehran Holds Mobarak Int’l Puppet Theater Festival | ||
Tehran Holds Mobarak Int’l Puppet Theater Festival The 14th edition of Tehran International Puppet Theater Festival (Mobarak) was held in the Iranian capital’s City Theater grounds. The opening ceremony honored the memory of Javad Zolfaqari, the late Iranian stage director and a pioneer of puppet theater. “It was the late Mr. Zolfaqari who founded puppet theater festival in Iran and his memory will always be cherished,” said director of the festival Ardeshir Salehpour. Hadi Hejazifar staged My Life, a play written based on the life and works of his late tutor Javad Zolfaqari. The opening ceremony also featured three of the world’s tallest puppets Amou Nowruz (Uncle Nowruz), Naneh Sarma (Mother Frost) and Mobarak. According to Persian tradition, Amou Nowruz, along with his funny side-kick Haji Firouz, usher in the spring time every year on the eve of spring equinox when the Persian New Year is celebrated. Amou Nowruz brings gifts for the children, much like his Western counterpart Santa Claus. Naneh Sarma, however, is the symbol of winter, who is sometimes called Lady of the Cold Spells. Mobarak was first unveiled as the world's tallest puppet during the Iranian Art Week held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in December 2010. The six-meter tall marionette was designed by French artist Fleur Marie Fuentes during Iran's 13th Mobarak International Puppet Theater Festival, and made of recycled materials. This year’s annual Tehran International Puppet Theater Festival (Mobarak) hosted 41 theater troupes from different countries. The event presented 11 puppet shows from Italy, Germany, Georgia, South Korea, Belarus, Afghanistan, Turkey and India. Organized by the Iran office of UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette - International Puppetry Association), the festival was held in July 2012. | ||
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