― 2 ноября 2023 г.

First International Theater Festival of TURKSOY in Azerbaijan

The 1st TURKSOY International Theatre Festival started with an opening ceremony held at the Azerbaijan National Drama Theatre in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The participants of the event first visited the grave of the National Leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, laid flowers in front of the grave and paid tribute to his memory.

The festival, which began on  November 1st, 2023 at the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre with the theatre play "Karabakhname" by the Azerbaijani author Ilyas Efendiyev, was attended by TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev, the  -Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Adil Kerimli and representatives of the art of  theatre from the Turkic World. Prior to the opening, a press conference on the festival was held at the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre. 

Addressing the audience at the  meeting, the  Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Adil Kerimli congratulated everyone on the occasion of the festival, which brought together representatives of the stage and art of the Turkic world, and wished success in their work.

The Minister noted that the festival was held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, the declaration of Shusha as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2023 , the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the National Theatre of Azerbaijan and the 30th anniversary of TURKSOY. Kerimli noted that the international festival, organised for the first time under the leadership of TURKSOY, will pave the way for the development of theatre relations between brotherly countries and the expansion of creative exchanges.

TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev who noted that the first professional theatre of the Turkic World was established in Azerbaijan 150 years ago described the artistic path of Azerbaijani theatre for one and a half centuries and congratulated the artists who contributed to the development of this field, wishing them further success in their career.

Secretary General Raev emphasised that the festival was first held in Baku and expressed his confidence that the project will encourage new creative initiatives in the Turkic world.

The opening speeches were followed by the performance of the  play "Karabakhname" - which was one of the plays included in the competition programme of the festival - by the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre was presented.

Adapted from Ilyas Efendiyev's "The Ruler and His Daughter", the play depicting the historical events that took place in Shusha, the centre of the Karabakh Khanate in the 18th century and directed by People's Artist Merahim Ferzelibeyov, was met with interest by the audience.