From May 8, Akhaltsikhe State Puppet Theater will host a new puppet show – “Esma Starts a Car”. The puppet show was directed by Elene Matskhonashvili, winner of the Duruji Theater Award, and the script was written by playwright Alex Chighvinadze, winner of the Saba Literary Prize.

The puppet show – “Esma Starts a Car” - was prepared at the initiative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Georgia Country Office. 

On May 8, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the UNFPA Georgia Country Office and the Union of the National Professional Puppet Theatres of Georgia LEPL. The Memorandum was signed by Lela Bakradze, Head of the UNFPA Georgia Country Office, and Nikoloz Sabashvili, Director of the Union of the National Professional Puppet Theatres.

The Memorandum aims to enhance cooperation between the organizations, to prepare culturally sensitive and age-appropriate puppet shows for children and parents, for the purpose of promoting gender equality and preventing harmful practices.

After signing the Memorandum, the premiere performance of the puppet show “Esma Starts a Car” was held at the Akhaltsikhe State Puppet Theater. 

Within the framework of the cooperation between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Union of the National Professional Puppet Theatres of Georgia LEPL, the puppet show will be included in the regular performance schedule of the theatre and, at the first stage, the performances will be conducted throughout Samtskhe-Javakheti region. 
 

The puppet show was prepared within the frames of the programme “Addressing Gender-Biased Sex Selection and Related Harmful Practices in the South Caucasus” being implemented under the auspices of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and with the support of the European Union.