STREETS FILLED WITH PUPPETS AND THE JOY OF CHILDREN

The 17th International Eskişehir Children, Youth and Puppet Theatre Festival, organized by the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality City Theatres, began with colorful scenes and great enthusiasm. Once again, the festival has transformed Eskişehir into a vibrant center of art, theatre, and children's joy.

The festival officially opened with a parade procession held between Köprübaşı and the Haller Youth Center. Featuring giant puppets, marching bands, street performers, and theatre companies from different countries, the parade transformed the streets of Eskişehir into a vibrant open-air stage. Drawing significant public interest, the parade created unforgettable moments, especially for children.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce emphasized Eskişehir's strong cultural and artistic identity and highlighted the festival's contribution to the city's vibrant atmosphere. In her speech, Mayor Ünlüce stated: "Today, thanks to all of you, the streets of Eskişehir have become a colorful celebration. Fueled by the passion and spirit of theatre, we will experience a truly remarkable festival over the next five days, with performances on four outdoor and four indoor stages, featuring theatre companies from seven different countries. By taking theatre beyond the stages and into the streets of our city, we have brought together Eskişehir, the arts, and the joy of children. I hope our festival, where we come together to experience the unifying power of art, brings joy and memorable moments to all our fellow citizens. During this five-day celebration, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our Eskişehir City Theatres and to all the participating companies. Thanks to their contributions, Eskişehir is a vibrant and thriving city of art, and this festival will make it even stronger. Welcome to our city. We are delighted that you are here, and we are proud to host you in Eskişehir. ''

In addition to theatre companies from different cities across Türkiye, festival audiences will also enjoy performances by international groups from Slovenia, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Romania, Italy, France, and Sweden. Participating companies include Frutillas Con Crema from France, Rufino Theater and Nina Theater from Italy, Peter Kus Company from Slovenia, Puck Puppet Theater from Romania, Mittiprickteatern from Sweden, Art Start from Bulgaria, and Steven Luca from the Netherlands, all bringing their productions to young theatre enthusiasts.

On the festival's first day, trainees of the Youth Stage also presented their graduation projects to audiences. "A Midsummer Night's Dream-ish," directed by Berkay Akın and adapted from the work of William Shakespeare, received great acclaim at the Opera Stage. Following the performance, the trainees were awarded their graduation certificates.

Throughout the five-day festival, dozens of performances will be staged at four outdoor and four indoor venues located across different parts of the city. Through puppet workshops, street performances, and interactive activities, children will not only have fun but also enjoy engaging with the arts.

As Eskişehir continues to embrace the magic of theatre throughout the festival, the unifying power of art, the laughter of children, and colorful performances will keep bringing life and energy to every corner of the city.