Puppeteers from the Viet Nam Puppet Theatre have imparted the making of water puppets to Egyptian artisans as the first step to introduce the country’s renowned water puppetry to Egyptian audiences and later the Middle East spectators.
Undertaking through a cooperation programme between the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, between March 15 and April 10, the Vietnamese artists instructed Egyptian artisans to create 25 puppets featuring Pharaoh-era mascots and figures. All works were displayed at the Egypt Centre for International Culture Cooperation, attracting a large number of art-lovers in the country.
Mai Mohab, who is in charge of the programme in Egypt, said apart from introducing Viet Nam’s unique water puppetry to Egyptian people, the activity helps enhance exchanges and mutual understanding between the two people.
According to Vuong Tat Loi from the Viet Nam Puppet Theatre, artists from the Thang Long Puppet Theatre will go to the Middle East country in June to instruct their Egyptian peers how to handle puppets in a show.
In September, a water puppet performance will jointly be organised by the two countries, during which the first ever play using puppets made with Vietnamese artists’ help to tell Egypt’s myths is expected to be premiered by Egyptian artists.