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WE'RE BACK - LET'S CELEBRATE TOGETHER!
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It's time for another magical journey! Welcome to the 21st edition of the Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival; which offers you a multicultural experience that is both exciting & breath-taking. Once again the festival has curated for the entire family a line-up of fabulous shows, breath-taking performances & live entertainment like never before. So save the dates on your calendar right now! One of the most anticipated festivals in the country, from the 21st February to the 2nd March 2025 the festival will be held at The India Habitat Centre. With each new edition, only the most talented puppeteers & performers in India & around the world take to the stage to perform. Those attending the 21st edition can anticipate a one of a kind experience with the unique array of talented artists & performers. From India to Italy, Mexico to Turkey, Russia to Poland & more – the festival honours both the love of storytelling & the diversity of cultures. The Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival was founded in 2001 by award winning puppeteer Dadi D. Pudumjee. Since then it has achieved widespread recognition, being one of the most relevant festivals of its kind & matured into one of Asia’s largest puppetry events. Over a 100+ puppeteers, artists & performers from India & across the globe have used the festival as a stage to perform. Produced by Teamwork Art, thousands of visitors support & visit the festival each year. It’s the only place where audiences can experience traditional to modern forms of puppetry - complimented with performances with dance, theatre, music & more. The Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival is largely supported by the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust. Corporate houses, organisations, media entities & individual donors are welcome to partner & help promote this festival & art form. Donations made to the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust qualify for exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. For further information write to: dadipud@gmail.com |
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The Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival 2025 |
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PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE TWO
Date - 21st February 2025
Embark on a delightful adventure in this hilarious musical show! An abundance of sweet gags & riotous malarkey – our stars are Giulio & Fabiola, two very special puppets. Giulio is a lazy dog who only wants to nap all day long – but give him a piece of candy & the naughty dog will do anything for you. Fabiola is a cheeky, hot-tempered, sweet little girl, who loves to sleep as much as Giulio. Always doing the opposite of what she’s told, Fabiola has made up her mind to be the naughtiest girl she can be. She meets Giulio & the two create mischief & laugh-out-loud catastrophes everywhere they go. A not to be missed performance filled with friendship, love & self-discovery. |
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VOLAR VOLAR (TO FLY)
Date - 22nd February 2025
Have you ever struggled to pique a young child’s curiosity? With the amazing puppet Greta, get ready to ignite your children’s imagination & embark on a fascinating adventure. As we accompany this genius puppet on her mission, we learn that observation & perseverance is the key what unites the sky with the sea. Volar Volar (To Fly) is a thought-provoking kaleidoscope of knowledge & a one of a kind performance. It encourages kids & adults of all ages to ask questions, explore the world around them & develop a deeper curiosity. From Aristotle to Einstein to now Greta – observation has always been the magical key to extraordinary discoveries. It’s a show where learning is as entertaining as it is enlightening. |
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THEATRE IN THE POCKET
Date - 23rd February 2025
Get ready for a magical world filled with vibrant puppets, talented performers & foot tapping music. The street theatre of Russia comes to life, in this collection of unforgettable vignettes! Meet a range of different acts & cute puppets, each with a different story & unique performance, which will tug at the heartstrings & make you smile with joy. There’s a beautiful ballerina & her partner dancing away, a magician & a naughty rabbit in his hat playing tricks - & even a grumpy old pig who’s trying to hunt a mischievous duck. This interactive show teaches the young & old that things are never as bad as they seem & to enjoy the emotions of life. |
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Be Yourself"based on the Ugly Duckling
Date - 25th February 2025
Ishara brings Hans Christian Andersen's timeless tale to life as a dazzling puppet experience. |
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IO, PULCINELLA
Date - 26th February 2025
Italy’s most celebrated puppet Pulcinella is brought back to life once more! A celebration of four centuries of tradition, it’s a musical show that pays a playful homage to Neapolitan culture with its vivid characters. All the poor singing & dancing Pulcinella wants to do is impress the beautiful Teresina & steal a kiss from her. Unfortunately our hero’s serenading is interrupted by a fierce dog. The dog’s bossy & wicked owner then shows up to hound him for money. Just when things can’t get any worse, the figure of Death decides to pay a visit to our poor Pulcinella. Will Pulcinella ever reunite with his true love? A performance that is sure to dazzle audiences of all ages.
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SEA OF POSSIBILITIES
Date - 27th February 2025
Inspired by the bestselling picture book ‘Maybe’ by Kobi Yamada, this spellbinding show is uplifting & magical. Every child has untapped potential & is one of a kind in this universe. With puppets, objects, music & live film projections, the young & old alike get to discover the uniqueness, imagination & creativity inside each child. Watching the performance on stage, children will be inspired to dream, encouraged to discover the unknown & envision what they each might do in this life. Highlighting the importance of one’s potential & that it’s a wonder & something attainable, the show is filled with empowering messages for audiences of all ages. |
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MONKEY & THE CROCODILE
Date - 28th February 2025 The timeless Indian folktale from the Panchatantra is brought to life by the seasoned puppeteers of the beloved TV series Galli Galli Sim Sim (Sesame Street). A clever monkey & a bunch of kooky crocodiles are the stars of this colourful puppet performance. The monkey & crocodile are best buddies, & every day the monkey shares his fruits from the tree with his friend. After the crocodile takes some juicy fruits home for the wife, the greedy Mrs Crocodile decides she wants to eat the monkey’s heart. She tries to convince her husband to bring his friend home to eat him. Will the crocodile betray his best friend? Kids & adults alike learn an important moral lesson & the true meaning of friendship. |
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JUKEBOX
Date - 1st March 2025
You'll want to tap your feet & sing along at this one of a kind high-energy cabaret show! There are plenty of fancy dolls, colourful costumes & surreal characters on display - taking the stage & singing with a humorous touch! The unique three feet tall midgets - half puppet & half human - will amaze your senses & let your imagination run wild. Sing along to plenty of old songs from well-known musicians & bands & new ones as well, together reinvented for this inventive jukebox performance. Audiences are expected to engage & sing along with the performers & will find themselves enriched by this frolicking evening of music. |
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LIFE (VIDA)
Date - 2nd March 2025 Get ready to be awed & amazed as the puppeteer transforms his two hands into fantastic puppets & props! Whatever is pulled out of the sewing basket will be a surprise to all watching. Without a word, the puppets act out for the audience a series of playful, tender & captivating stories. Each handmade object has its own personality & place in time, teaching us that all life is valuable. The intimate performance imparts a metaphor of humanity, conveying to us that one should always move forward in life, as there is no chance to return to the past. |
