LAHORE: The Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop is organising the 11th National Traditional and Contemporary Folk Puppetry Theatre Festival at the Rafi Peer Cultural Complex along Raiwind Road.

It promises to be a spectacular event featuring an amazing collection of folk puppets from March 27 to 30. The Royal Norwegian Embassy is collaborating on the event.

Ten groups from all over Pakistan are expected to participate in the fiesta. After a gap of many years the Pakistan National Council of Arts (Islamabad) and the Alhamra Art Center, The Mall, will be represented by their groups.

A music performance by Krishan Lal Bheel and group, who represent known Cholistani folk singing tradition of Bheels, will also be part of the festival.

Saadan Pirzada, the creative director of the project, told Dawn that the event would host a variety of Pakistani folk puppeteers from various regions. “Each of the artists has distinguished himself in the field of puppetry through training, entertainment and bringing innovations in the art. Together these artists make up a spectacular showcase and create a distinct experience,” he said.

Besides the puppet performances, he said there would be a folk music concert by Krishan Lal Bheel.

Horse and Cattle show, Mascot Dancing, Folk Art and Craft Mela (having stalls of woodcraft from Gilgit, embroidery from Hunza, handicraft made by the disabled and NGOs, Kashmiri shawls from Mirpur and puppets from Rajasthan – India) would also be arranged, he said.

The event would be quite informative for the puppetry fanciers in terms of new techniques and different kinds of hand-held and string puppets. Novel methods and film songs used as background music would add to the thrill.

Saadan expects a good number of people especially youngsters and schoolchildren at the four-day event.

The International Museum of Puppetry has been revamped for the festival.