Commemorating two decades of the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust, our institution unveils innovative stage designs.
In its 20th edition, the globally acclaimed Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival will be held from February 16 to 25, 2024, at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. This event serves as a renowned celebration of puppetry, sponsored by the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust, which has been instrumental in fostering public awareness and appreciation of puppetry since its inception in 2001.
Guided by Dadi D. Pudumjee, a distinguished director, designer, and founder of the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust, a collaborative project involving students from various design disciplines at an institution was launched. Under the guidance of Shaaz Ahmed, an Associate Professor of Communication Design, along with Josh P. S. and Pankaj Narain, Associate Professors of Foundation in Design, and 11 additional faculty mentors, the students crafted 11 distinctive installations to commemorate the festival's significant 20th milestone.
Strategically arranged across the courtyards of the India Habitat Centre, these installations honor the 20th anniversary of the Ishara Foundation while providing photo opportunities for attendees. The installations exhibit a rich diversity of mediums, materials, and textures, weaving an educational experience while celebrating the festival.
The installations encompass a wide variety of representations, such as hand-woven narratives, figurines forming the number 20, and masks adorned with faces of participating countries, each puppet evoking a unique tale. A totem pole explores the perception of performance art through multiple senses, while a mouth with a long red tongue adds a touch of whimsy. One installation showcases caricaturist-stylized cartoon 3D models in a distorted form, forming the number 20, and another features iconic figures like Marilyn Monroe, Gandhi, and Charlie Chaplin.
Dadi Pudumjee's workshop offered an enriching learning experience for the students, providing them with a platform to develop their unique identity in the world of puppetry. This year's festival features puppeteers from India and 15 other countries, embodying a vibrant celebration of puppetry and collaborative art, showcasing the tangible storytelling tools that have defined the foundation's journey.
The festival's opening night began with Theatre Arketel's "Wings and Roots," a puppetry rendition of Stefan Zweig's 'The Legend of the Third Dove.' This play, depicting Noah's trio of doves and their journey across the newly reborn earth, set the stage for an enchanting and thought-provoking exploration of life, resurgence, and the value of individuality.
Brazil's Theatre Pia Fraus presented "Air Giants Circus," a blend of hand and shadow puppetry that humorously transplanted 17th-century Spain to 21st-century Brazil during Pernambuco's carnival. The US-based Kurt Hunter Marionettes presented "Penguin in my Pocket," a unique show featuring marionettes, rod puppets, live concertina music, and highlighting the importance of imagination in both science and art.
Novosibirsk Regional Puppet Theatre presented "Petrouchka," a lively performance based on Russia's most famous puppet character. Taiwan's Puppet on the Workbench offered "Hiss and Arf," a comedy-packed performance showcasing the humorous adventures between an owner and his two mischievous pets.
Sri Lanka-based Mango Friends Puppet Society presented a string puppet show, continuing the legacy of Ganwary Podi Sirina, a founder of Sri Lankan traditional string puppetry. South Korea's Culture Art Bakery FFWANG presented "Hong Dongji Isimi," a slapstick performance inspired by traditional puppetry styles like Punch Judy and Italian Guaratelle.
Brazil-based Trapusteros Teatro performed "Mamulengo de la Mancha and Marieta and the Bumba Bull" in a witty satire show that combined Miguel de Cervantes's Spain with Brazilian Northeastern culture. Indias Ishara Puppet Theatre closed the evening's performances with "Be Yourself," a puppetry adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's Ugly Duckling, reinforcing the theme of acceptance, self-discovery, and India's weaving traditions.
Dadi Pudumjee expressed his gratitude to Dr. Jitin Chadha (Founder and CEO), Prof. Usha Nehru (Director-Academics), Shaaz Ahmed (Associate Professor - Communication Design), Pankaj Narain (Associate Professor - Foundation in Design), and Josh P.S. (Associate Professor - Foundation in Design) for their guidance in transforming the students' ideas into reality. He also expressed appreciation towards the institution for facilitating this collaborative endeavor.
- The collaborative project between students from various design disciplines at the institution, under the guidance of Shaaz Ahmed and other faculty members, designed 11 distinctive installations made of diverse materials and textures, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Ishara Foundation and providing an educational experience.
- For the 20th edition of the Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival, Munich-based Jean-Claude Carrière presents "The Tale of the White Snake," a story from Chinese mythology, highlighting the festival's focus on world storytelling through puppetry.
- In addition to the participant countries' puppetry presentations, the festival also features art installations designed by students, contributing to the overall lifestyle and experience of the event, fostering communication, education, and self-development.
- Through the Ishara Foundation's series of workshops, students, and aspiring puppet artists gain comprehensive exposure to various aspects of puppetry design and production, preparing them for roles in the global puppetry community and future educators in the field of art.
