(Communicated by the Ministry of Tourism)

The 22nd International Puppet Theater Festival, the largest ever to be held in Israel, will feature four premieres, dozens of leading puppeteers from the Far East, Europe and Israel in a spectacular artistic celebration to be held from August 4-8 at the Jerusalem Train Theatre and additional cultural centers around Jerusalem, including the First Station, the Khan Theatre and the Train Theatre and Amphitheatre at the Liberty Bell Garden.

An unprecedented number of shows- approximately 125 performances - offer a unique theatrical experience for the whole family. The festival incorporates the best of artists and puppeteers from around the world, who will present the newest trends in puppet theatre such as: a unique shadow theatre, glove puppets, images and objects theatre and more.

The festival’s main performance, “Lunar Eclipse - A traditional Thai Legend” performed by the famous Thai Theatre will be performed three times in large theatres.

This year, the festival pays tribute to trains - some of the performances will be held at the First Station, Jerusalem’s newest entertainment complex in the renovated train station. The performance “On the Rails” will take place on the tracks as the audience is invited to stroll and enjoy the show at the same time. “The Circus Came to Town” by the Belgian Claire de Lune Theatre will also be performed there. An additional show and workshop to be performed there is “Who’s Who on the Train to Jerusalem”.

International performances offering the best of puppet theatre worldwide for children and adults hail from Thailand, Taiwan, Russia, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Italy and more.

“Lunar Eclipse - A Traditional Thai Legend” by Natayasaia Joe Louis Theatre features traditional puppet theatre techniques where the puppeteers are also the dancers, bringing the Thai sky kingdom to life with its gods and demons. This harmony of puppet, body and motion creates a visual wealth and unique mythological storyline- taking the audience to the Far East. A performance for the whole family (age 6 and above).

“A Sea of Puppets” - Taiwan Puppet Theatre Company features a humorous, Kung Fu style performance with impressive glove puppets presenting the various characters of Taiwanese theatre: The young clown, fair maiden, acrobats and martial artists. Out of a sculpted wooden frame, the characters all whirl into the fast-paced storyline. The performance combines elegant movement, humor and Kung Fu action with a happy ending. Suitable for the whole family (age 4 and above).

Other international shows include “A Circus on Strings”- by Victor Antonov, Russia, a sophisticated marionette show for the whole family; “Hand in Hand”-  by Valeria Guglietti, Spain, a Chinese shadow performance for the whole family; “Sinbad- When the Dragon Boats Arrived”- by Karin Schafer Figuren Theatre, Austria, a performance combining shadow, sketch art and video for the whole family and “One Foot Here, One Foot There” by Laura Kibel, Teatro di Piedi, Italy, a show without words, using body images as a virtuous stage, for the whole family.

 

The Wanderings of Paper Heart

 

In addition to the many Israeli performances, there will be free performances every evening at 22:00 at the Khan Theater courtyard, incorporating fresh, young creations as well as Jewels by Moran Aviv and Lee Lorian from the Pandora artists collective.

The Train Theatre was established in Jerusalem, 1981 as collaboration between four independent artists and puppeteers: Michael Schuster, Alina Ashbell, Hadas Ofrat and Mario Kotliar (RIP). It started as a train cabin brought to the Jerusalem Liberty Bell Garden, and through the years grew to be a cabin- the creative and inspired force in all regards concerning Israeli puppet theatre.