History Of The Theatre

In the mid-1980’s young director and artist Tarlan Gorchu started bringing his idea of creating a marionette theatre in Baku to life; formally the theatre was established on 20th April, 1988, under Azerbaijan Theatre-Makers’ Union.

The first show staged was based on Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s musical ‘Arshin Mal Alan’ (The Cloth- Peddler). Its premiere performance took place in France in August, 1990. French newspapers wrote rapturously “Ainsi font les marionnettes...”, “Très gros succèss...”, “Merveilleuses marionnettes!”, “Encore deux soirées pour le plaisir!” – and thus it was agreed to extend the performance...

In 1993 the theatre changed its status to municipal theatre, and in 2013 joined the “Icherisheher” Administration. More favorable conditions allowed the team to focus all its creative energy on the staging of Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s opera ‘Leyli & Majnun’. In 2016 the Theatre was able to perform on its permanent stage for the first time.

The Baku Marionette Theatre aims to promote the creative legacy of Uzeyir Hajibeyli. Tarlan Gorchu is the founder and artistic leader of the Theatre.

Additional info: http://baku-media.ru/files/pdf/92/index.html#/88/http://regionplus.az/ru/articles/view/4033

Baku Marionette Theatre at the World Festival in Charleville (France) & in Zagreb (Croatia), 2019