Written by: Staff Report
Posted on: March 24, 2021 | 
| 中文
Traditional Chinese Stick Puppets
Though puppetry has been out of the international cultural zeitgeist for some time, China and Pakistan both boast a proud tradition of storytelling through this art form. Over the weekend, a grand puppet show was held in the China Puppet Theatre of Beijing, not only to celebrate World Puppetry Day but also the enduring 70-year friendship of Pakistan and China. This marks the first time that that the puppetry traditions of both countries came together to create an entertaining and colorful celebration of the art.
Puppetry is an old form of art and folk theatre, that is not just present in Asia but Europe, Africa and Australia. Though the basic training and design of the puppets have remained the same, the art form has evolved throughout history to include more modern stories and characters. However, while much has been done to raise awareness on the skill and importance of the art form, interest in it is increasingly dwindling. Therefore, World Puppetry Day was launched in 2003 to preserve the traditions and renew the art of puppetry, as well as to use puppetry as a means of ethical and aesthetic education.
Beijing Style Shadow Puppets
Both China and Pakistan have made efforts to preserve this rich tradition of folk theatre. The China Puppet Art Theatre that opened in 2006 is the nation’s premier puppet theatre. It both celebrates puppetry as an ancient and highly technical art form, and also uses it as an educational vehicle to teach children about China’s art and history. Similarly, Rafi Peer Theatre is Pakistan’s oldest established puppet theatre, which opened in 1978. Over the years, Rafi Peer has been the first company to host modern puppet shows and international puppet festivals.
From The Rafi Peer International Puppet Festival, 2018
Before the event, the Pakistani Ambassador to China, Mr. Moin ul Haque, welcomed everyone to the show. He explained the importance of cultural exchange and people-to-people connection as the next step to deepen relations between the Iron Brothers. Mr. Haque also cited the importance of both Chinese and Pakistani children as torchbearers of this friendship for generations to come.
This was followed by speeches from Party Secretary and Chairperson of Beijing Performance and Art Group, Ms. Zhao Jiachen, President of China Puppet Arts Theater, Ms. Zhao Yongzhuang, Saadaan Peerzada, Director of the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, and Ms. Himalchuli Gurung, Programme Specialist for Culture at UNESCO. Each stressed the importance of using arts and entertainment to keep traditional forms of culture alive for the next generations.
Stills from the Puppet Show (photo credits to China Economic Net
The puppet show itself included virtual performances by the Rafi Peer group, while the China Puppet Theatre showcased excerpts from ‘Mermaid’, ‘Crane’, ‘Happy New Year’, and their internationally lauded ‘The True Monkey King’. Parents and children alike were enthralled by the dazzling display of puppets and compelling stories, while diplomatic delegations from Malaysia and Cambodia were also invited to enjoy the show.
Puppet Exchange at the Puppet Show (photo credits to Dong Feng_Global Times)
The event also saw a virtual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between China Puppet Theatre and Rafi Peer Theatre, promising more exchanges and collaboration between the two organization in the future. As a gesture of goodwill, both organizations exchanged puppets for their company’s respective museums.
This puppet show has been one of the highlights of the over-100 events planned to celebrate 70 years of friendship between the two countries. The celebrations were launched on March 2nd by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. A virtual celebration took place between Islamabad and Beijing, unveiling a logo to celebrate the occasion. These activities will continue throughout the year, and many are excited to see the breadth of festivities celebrating the all-weather friendship of Pakistan and China.
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