The presentation will provide an introduction to the history of puppet theatre in the Arab region covering a wide time-frame starting from past to present days. The event will give an insight to the audience on the various forms and techniques by positioning this rich art form of theatre in its historical and geographical context. A number of puppetry styles will be illustrated, such as glove puppets, marionettes, shadow puppets and objects. The talk will highlight how puppet performances were tackling different issues related to the Arab region, from playing at weddings to discussing social, political and historical topics.

Founded in 2008 and the first of its kind The Arab Puppet Theatre Foundation provides a vital platform to revive, advance and continually challenge and rethink puppetry in the Arab world, whilst encouraging and supporting the professional development of any artists interested in puppetry practices.

This event is part of the series Converging Paths, a year-long series of events curated for 2020, and organised in partnership by Asia House and The Barakat Trust. With this series we aim to engage audiences in challenging cultural misconceptions about the Islamic world, building bridges between communities and highlighting the importance of the arts of that region. We aim to provide wider access, combining digital platforms and curated cultural programmes that appeal to adults and families.

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