Cengiz Özek

The opening of the 26th International Istanbul Puppet Festival, featuring 11 different performances from six countries this year, was held at Turşucuzade Mansion Sıbyan School.

Cengiz Özek, the festival's art director, said that the festival was born out of the intense interest they encountered during previous international Karagöz performances.

Within the scope of the much-awaited fifth edition of the Istanbul Karagöz Festival that will kick off tomorrow, a famous traditional Turkish shadow theater will be staged for Istanbul residents in the upcoming week.

The festival, which will last until Nov. 21, aims to make the art of shadow play more visible and bring all the colors of this historical tradition to audiences.

A famous traditional Turkish shadow play, Karagöz Istanbul Explorer will be staged for different African audiences, following its successful show at Africa's Ubumuntu Arts Festival in Kigali, Rwanda, said Fatih Polat, the Karagöz master.