5th Sheki International Theatre Festival opens

The 5th Sheki International Theatre Festival has begun in Sheki. Running from October 1 to 5, the festival features theatre companies from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Iran.

Known as the "city of festivals", Sheki is hosting the next international arts event. The festival is held with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Sheki City Executive Authority, the Union of Theatre Workers of Azerbaijan and the Sheki State Drama Theatre.

The opening ceremony of the festival took place at the Sheki State Drama Theatre. It was attended by representatives of the organising bodies, well-known theatre and arts figures, festival participants and guests, as well as city residents.

Before the opening, festival participants visited the monument to National Leader Heydar Aliyev and laid bouquets of flowers before it. The guests then viewed the exhibition "Sheki Theatre – Yesterday and Today", which reflects the history of the theatre, and took part in a press conference.

At the opening ceremony, the National Anthem was played, and the memory of martyrs who died for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was honoured with a minute of silence. A video chronicle about the history of the Sheki International Theatre Festival was then shown.

The head of the Sheki City Executive Authority, Elxan Usubov, said the festival occupies an important place in the city's cultural life.

The chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers of Azerbaijan, People's Artist Haji Ismayilov, called Sheki the "land of artists". He presented a commemorative gift to the festival's artistic director, Honoured Art Worker Mirbala Salimli.

The artistic programme of the festival's first day continued with the play "Uchqun" presented by the Sheki State Drama Theatre. The play, based on the work of the same name by Tuncer Cücenoğlu, is directed by Mirbala Salimli. The play highlights the theme of man overcoming his sense of fear.

As part of the event, letters of thanks and commemorative gifts were presented to organisations and individuals who contributed to the organisation of the festival. The Union of Theatre Workers of Azerbaijan also awarded the heads of theatre companies from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Iran.

On the following days of the festival, various performances will be staged with the participation of theatre companies from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Iran.