Overview:

The Baku Puppet Theatre is a professionally-run, full-scale theatre in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was founded in 1989 and has since become a very popular and beloved cultural institution in the city, with both locals and tourists often visiting for a show. The productions at this theatre range from stories about fairies and animals to Azerbaijani folk tales, from classic tales to puppet interpretations of important works such as Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, and more. The shows are typically performed with marionettes, dolls, and various types of puppets. The theatre also regularly holds puppet-making workshops, story times, and other educational activities. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Azerbaijan
Prominent Features:

-Traditional theatrical performances including puppet shows, played by skilled professionals -Bright and welcoming foyer, decorated with gifts from all over the world -Ability to visit individual studios where gifted puppet-makers create the hand-made figures used in the shows -Opportunity to learn the basics of puppetry from experienced professionals -Museum of Puppet Carving, displaying intricately carved figures from all around the world -An aviation-themed rooftop cafe, offering delicious Azerbaijani food -Gift shop with souvenirs, puppets, and other memorabilia from the theatre You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Azerbaijan.

History:

Baku Puppet Theatre was officially founded in 1941, although the roots of puppet theatre in Baku date back to the 1920s and beyond. Prior to the establishment of the official puppet theatre, small puppet theatres operated in different places around the city, such as parks and outdoor spaces. In the 1930s, puppet shows were organised under the artistic direction of Rusi Suleymanov, who was also the director of the newly formed Narimanov Puppet Theatre. With the opening of the official Baku Puppet Theatre, the genre of puppet theatre in Azerbaijan evolved into a more structured, formalised form, with performances being held in the theatre and puppet shows being broadcast on radio and television. Over the years, the repertoire of the theatre has included traditional Azerbaijani folk puppet shows, classic puppet theatre plays and adaptations of fairy tales. The theatre also performs shows based on contemporary literary works and world classics, bringing stories to life on stage with over 18 different puppet characters. The theatre is widely regarded as an important cultural institution in Baku, and is a major source of entertainment for Azerbaijani people. The Baku Puppet Theatre is also home to a museum dedicated to puppetry, which contains a variety of traditional and modern puppet figures from around the world. Visit one of the famous monuments of Azerbaijan with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Baku Puppet Theatre was founded in 1950 and is one of the oldest theatres in Azerbaijan. 2. The theatre is renowned for its traditional puppetry performance, which has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 3. The theatre is known for its popular performances such as “Transformation of the Moon” and “The Shepherd’s Daughter”. 4. Its traditional puppetry style depicts human moral qualities and Azerbaijani themes. 5. The theatre is popular amongst both children and adults, performing locally and internationally. 6. The puppets at the theatre are handmade from natural materials such as wood and fabric. 7. The theatre regularly holds workshops to teach people how to make puppets, as well as other activities and events such as educational programmes. 8. The theatre has the distinction of having received the Golden Chest International Puppet Theatre Award in 2018. One of the historical monuments of Azerbaijan, it tells the story of a bygone era