1st National Kheimeh Shab-Bazi Festival to debut in Tehran

The National Kheimeh Shab-Bazi Festival is set to make debut in Tehran, marking a significant milestone for traditional Iranian puppet theater.

Scheduled to run from May 16 to 21, the festival will be under directorship of the theater artist Siavash Sattari, IRNA reported.

Hosted by the Kheimeh Shab-Bazi Museum in downtown Tehran, the festival seeks to foster artistic collaboration and competition among talents nationwide.

The participants can showcase their works via the festival's online platform at manacultureforum.com, with selected works earning the opportunity to vie for recognition on the festival stage.

Kheimeh Shab-Bazi, a time-honored tradition, blends puppetry, music, storytelling, and wit within the intimate confines of a puppet booth or ‘Kheimeh’.

Central to its allure are the whimsical interactions between puppeteers, musical performers, and the iconic Iranian puppet, Mobarak.

Made from wood and cloth, these puppets come to life behind a curtain, attracting audiences with their satirical banter and moral insights.

This cultural heritage, enclosed within the term ‘Kheimeh Shab-Bazi’ – literally meaning ‘night play in booth’ – has endured for generations, showing the essence of Iranian artistry and storytelling.

As custodians of this legacy, the festival’s organizers strive to safeguard and celebrate Kheimeh Shab-Bazi through collaborative platforms like workshops, festivals and educational initiatives, keeping its importance alive in the society.

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