TEHRAN-A total of nine workshops by Iranian and international figures have been organized to be held during the 28th International Theater Festival for Children and Young Adults that kicked off in Ardakan, Yazd Province, on February 20.

According to the public relations of the festival, the workshops, are held with a specialized approach of children and young adults’ theater and with the aim of increasing knowledge and empowering artists and activists in this field, Mehr reported.

Three workshops are held by well-known international artists including “Directing children and young adults' texts with the approach of fantasy stories” by Nikolai Naumov from Russia, “Mask making for children” by Italian-Spanish company Neamera Teatro founders Diana Costa and Pablo Durán Rojas, “Art of acting in puppetry and glove puppets and hands as characters” by Amela Vucenovic from Serbia.

There are also six workshops held by Iranian artists. Veteran playwright, theater director, and instructor Davood Kianian will hold two workshops titled “Theater, a practice for life”.

“Hearing, observing, performing” by Ali Pourtabib and Elham Ahmadi, “Story, puppet, show” by Mojtaba Kazemi, “Performance, magic of life” by Baharak Babak, and “Journey to the land of theater” are the other workshops held by Iranian artists in Ardakan.
 
The International Theater Festival for Children and Young Adults is an annual event that has been held in Iran since 1993. It seeks to promote theater and drama among children and young adults from all over the world, providing a platform for them to showcase their talent and experience different cultures.

It also aims at realizing the social participation of children and teenagers, improving the level of public culture, strengthening the original foundations of the family and connecting generations, teaching citizenship, and increasing responsibility by creating a platform for the active participation of children and teenagers in the production of theatrical works which is part of the rights of this dynamic and influential group of society.

This year’s edition of the festival is held with the slogan “Theater, the Pure Practice of Life” to strengthen empathy and companionship and grow awareness and self-confidence among the children through theater.

The festival has been organized by the Yazd Governorate in the historical city of Ardakan in the central Yazd Province, in collaboration with the General Department of Dramatic Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the Dramatic Arts Association of Iran. 

During the festival, theater companies present productions that are designed specifically for children and young adults, using a mix of storytelling, music, dance, and visual effects. 

Launched on February 20, the event will run through February 26.

SS/SAB