From 5 to 9 November, Ashgabat and the city of Arkadag are hosting performances as part of an international theatre festival. Theatre companies from Kazakhstan and Armenia are presenting their productions to audiences and taking part in discussions on contemporary trends in the performing arts. This was reported by Arzuw.news, citing the “Neutral Turkmenistan” newspaper.

In addition to the performances, the programme includes a meeting of theatre company directors. Discussions focus on preserving theatrical traditions, developing the performing arts and adapting theatre to the digital age.

Askhat Zautbek, Director of the Kostanay Drama Theatre, presented the production The Spotted Dog Running Along the Seashore, based on the novella by Chingiz Aitmatov. The play was staged in collaboration with Belarusian colleagues and is performed without translation. According to Zautbek, the emotional depth and humanistic message of the work enable audiences to understand its meaning regardless of language differences.

The V. Vagharshyan State Drama Theatre of Armenia brought the physical theatre production Abu-Lala Mahari to Turkmenistan, based on the work by Avetik Isahakyan. The theatre's Chief Director, David Harutyunyan, introduced the production, which marks the 150th anniversary of the poet's birth and offers a contemporary interpretation of a classic work of Armenian literature.

The festival provides an opportunity to explore the theatrical traditions of different countries, promote professional dialogue and strengthen cultural ties.