LAHORE: The art of wooden puppetry in Pakistan is on the decline and the puppet festival by the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop is not only aimed at saving this art form but also entertaining the masses through a variety of folk puppet shows, says Usman Peerzada.
He was addressing a press conference regarding 11th National Folk Puppet Festival at Lahore Press Club on Tuesday.
Mr Peerzada said the four-day festival, starting from March 27, would celebrate folk puppeteers, storytellers and local crafts. There would be a variety of shows by the folk puppeteers from across the country and major attractions would include the National Puppet Theatre, Islamabad, Alhamra Puppet Theatre and folk puppeteers from Multan, Bahawalpur and Dunyapur.
Peerzada said that through the festival, being organised in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy for the last 11 years, some 10 families from the folk puppet tradition were intact with the art form, otherwise they might have quitted the profession due to cut-throat commercialism.
“The festival’s objective is to promote the traditional folk arts and performers from all the provinces of Pakistan and above all, creating work opportunities for the local artistes and their families, encouraging them to develop their art and techniques,” Usman Peerzada said.
He added that the festival, a non-ticketed event, would be an opportunity for the students of art institutions, especially those interested in learning art of folk puppetry.
The festival will open at 9am at the Rafi Peer Cultural Complex, Raiwind Road. The first day of the festival will showcase dancing horses mascot parade, folk puppets, magic shows and a performance by the Alhamra Puppet Theatre, major performances on the second day of the festival include Krishan Lal Bheel, a folk singer from Cholistan, and a performance by Rafi Peer Puppet Theatre.
The third day will have performances by the National Puppet Theatre, Islamabad, and local artistes, the last and final day of the carnival will once again feature Krishan Lal Bheel, magic shows, mascots and a performance local artistes.