“Art of Imagination”.. Al-Ahsa hosts the first Saudi puppet theater festival

It will be launched tomorrow evening, Wednesday, at Culture and Arts Society in Al-Ahsa, activities of the first Saudi festival for puppet theater art under the slogan “The Art of Imagination.”

The activities will continue for five days, organized by Al-Tarf Theatrical Club aims to provide educational performances for the family.

The head of the festival’s organizing committee, Muhammad Al-Hubi, explained that the art of puppet theater represents an educational method that relies on moving anthropomorphic puppets to tell purposeful stories. Pointing out that this ancient art has the ability to attract the attention of children and deliver moral messages through innovative visual methods.

Al-Houbi explained that the festival highlights multiple types of puppets, most notably glove puppets that give the motor high flexibility in interactive shows, and shadow theater based on light projection and visual depth.

He added that the shows include marionette theater, which simulates human movement through strings, and stick puppets used for medium and large characters. Size.

The head of the organizing committee pointed out that the art of puppetry is witnessing an accelerating local movement with the support of the Theater and Performing Arts Authority and the “Amateurs” Association. Pointing out that this support resulted in the establishment of specialized clubs and the provision of professional workshops that integrate Saudi identity and heritage into the texts of performances.

Al-Houbi touched on the historical extension of this art in the Arab world and its connection to shadow fantasy, pointing to pioneering experiments and festivals in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.

He revealed the prominent global presence of puppetry in countries such as Japan, the Czech Republic, France and Italy, where it has academic institutes and international festivals. It attracts thousands of movers.

Regarding the participation, Al-Houbi confirmed that the festival includes various performances, including the plays “The Mysterious Gift,” “The Search for Light,” “Dance of the Planets,” and “Kingdom of the Kitchen.” The activities include visual performances by the Zaki Interactive Theater and the “Dinosaur Symphony,” in addition to the participation of the Al Tarf Theater Club band, and the “Mama Reads” initiative led by Sondos Al Sharif and Fatima Al Saadoun.