The puppet festivals have begun, and this May it's at the top of Keda Richens' list.


The 12th Istanbul International Puppet Festival is upon us again. And it promises to be as stunning as ever. Cengiz Özek, the founder, organizer and long time performer from Karagöz, has once again brought a whole host of diverse and delightful puppets and puppeteers from all over the world. I have taken my children to festival shows for the last 3 years and have yet to be disappointed. This beautiful storytelling medium has traditional roots in cultures worldwide and has fascinated children for centuries. Although, with performances for both children and adults, it’s wise to study the program thoroughly as some may be a little too freaky for younger kids!
Held between the 5th and the 20th of this month, the festival will take place at various theatres around Istanbul, mainly in the Beyoğlu area, with a few on the Anatolian side at venues in Kadıköy. Alongside the festival itself, there will also be a Karagöz exhibition at the Topkapı Palace from 5th to 10th May showing collections from two other museums and Cengiz Özek's personal collection as well.
Visit the website for more information
Cengiz ozek email: karagozek@gmail.com
Tel: 0212 243 16 02 - 243 47 04 - 0542 432 95 35
www.istanbulpuppetfestival.com