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Sheki Theatre Festival solemnly opens [PHOTO]

15 May 2018 17:08 (UTC+04:00)
Sheki Theatre Festival solemnly opens [PHOTO]

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan's ancient city of Sheki is hosting the 3rd International Theatre Festival. The opening ceremony took place at Sheki State Drama Theater named after Sabit Rahman on May 12.

Prominent public and cultural figures, theatre lovers attended the event.

Before the opening ceremony, festival participants laid flowers to the monument to the National Leader Heydar Aliyev at the building of the city's Executive Power.

Then in the foyer of the theater, guests got acquainted with the exhibition reflecting the historical path of the Azerbaijani theater.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the head of Sheki Executive Power Elhan Usubov expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture for the support to the festival. He stressed that Sheki become a city of festivals. The city hosts approximately 3-4 international festivals every year.

The head of the Sheki Executive Power said that national and spiritual values are the key factor that unites people. Azerbaijan's professional theatrical art plays an invaluable role in the preservation, propaganda of national and spiritual values and the formation of aesthetic taste of the Azerbaijani people.

It was noted Sheki, which has an ancient culture, show great interest in theatrical art.

In 1879, the comedy "Haji Gara" by Mirza Fatali Akhundzade was staged for the first time in Sheki. In 1933-1950, the State Drama Theater operated intermittently in Sheki. People's Theater also worked in the city in 1959-1975. Along with the works of national playwrights, plays of world classics are staged at the Sheki State Drama Theater, which has been operating since 1975.

"I think that the third Sheki International Theater Festival will be an important event in the cultural life of our city," said Elhan Usubov.

The Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, Adalyat Veliyev, spoke about the 145-year history of the Azerbaijani theater, achievements of the country's theaters in recent years.

Speaking about the festival, which is held for the third time and has become traditional, the Deputy Minister stressed that the organizing committee received over 60 applications for participation in the festival.

Then, festival participants enjoyed the play "Maqbet-Zar" staged by the Iranian theater "Titovak". The play is based on William Shakespeare's tragedy "Macbeth".

After performance, theater's troupe received gifts on behalf of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and the Sheki Executive Power.

The 3rd Sheki International Theatre Festival features well-known troupes from Iran, Georgia, Colombia and Russia.

The main purpose of the festival is to provide conditions to demonstrate and promote the best examples of contemporary theatre art, new innovations and techniques, and to support development of regional and international cultural relations.

The event is held within the framework of the State Program "Azerbaijan Theater in 2009-2019" with the joint organization of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Sheki Executive Power and Azerbaijan Union of Theater Workers.

The festival marks the 95th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev, centenary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and 145th anniversary of the founding of the Azerbaijani national professional theatre.

In connection with a large number of people wishing to take part in the festival, it was decided to hold it in two stages - national and international.

During the national stage on May 12-19, Azerbaijan's theater troupes will perform in various regions.

The national stage includes visits of the republican theaters to Sumgayit, Khirdalan, Lankaran, Mingachevir, Khachmaz, Yevlakh, Agdam, Bardu, Agstafa, Zagatala, Ismayilli, and Goygol.

As part of the international stage, foreign theaters, including Colombian Acto Teatro, Mexican theater La Kvinta, the theater from the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas, the Georgian Movement Theater, the North Ossetian State Academic Theater named after V.V. Thapsaev and others present their plays in Sheki, Lankaran and Baku.

The 3rd Sheki International Theatre Festival will run until May 19.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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Sheki Theatre Festival solemnly opens [PHOTO] - Gallery Image
Sheki Theatre Festival solemnly opens [PHOTO] - Gallery Image
Sheki Theatre Festival solemnly opens [PHOTO] - Gallery Image
Sheki Theatre Festival solemnly opens [PHOTO] - Gallery Image
Sheki Theatre Festival solemnly opens [PHOTO] - Gallery Image
Sheki Theatre Festival solemnly opens [PHOTO] - Gallery Image
Sheki Theatre Festival solemnly opens [PHOTO] - Gallery Image
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