Monday, 25 May 2026
Source: Ministry of Culture
Egypt celebrates heritage with first traditional puppetry festival in Qalyubia
With enthusiastic participation, Egypt's Ministry of Culture has successfully concluded the first Traditional Puppetry Forum in Qalyubia Governorate. The event was held under the patronage of Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henno, Minister of Culture, and Mr. Ayman Attia, Governor of Qalyubia, as part of the Ministry’s July activities for the national initiative “Egypt Speaks for Herself,” which aims to promote and celebrate Egyptian cultural identity.
Children and families gathered at the Banha Children's Culture Palace for the closing festivities, enjoying a vibrant atmosphere filled with a variety of artistic performances and interactive experiences. The event opened with the puppet show “Barney in the Puppet Theater,” written and directed by Mohamed Hassan Hazaa and performed by the “Hams Show” troupe. This was followed by a lively performance from the “Agyal” group, led by artist Amr Hamza, featuring beloved cartoon and marionette characters set to popular Egyptian songs.
Another highlight was the play “The Secret of the Golden Flower,” written and directed by artist Samir Abdelaziz, which showcased the creativity of children who participated in arts workshops throughout the forum.
Children took part in several interactive workshops. These included puppet-making workshops led by artist Hanady Ismail, as well as glove and stick puppetry sessions managed by artists Samir Abdelaziz and Naglaa Hosny. Additional activities included puppet-themed drawing classes with Dr. Rana Mohsen and face painting offered by artists Yasser Farid and Samah Samir.
Simultaneously, similar events took place at the Workers' Culture Palace in Shubra El-Kheima, attended by Dr. Hanan Moussa, Head of the Central Administration for Studies and Research. The "Agyal" troupe performed a marionette show, alongside practical workshops on making glove puppets and moving puppets from felt, supervised by trainers Shahd Eid and Mona Abdel Wahab. Children and families also enjoyed face-painting activities with artists Hoda Yehia, Amira Abdelhamid, and others.
The festival was organized by the Qalyubia branch of Greater Cairo and North Upper Egypt Culture Region, in cooperation with the General Administration of Child Culture, demonstrating the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to preserving heritage and inspiring artistic imagination and creativity among children through meaningful cultural experiences.
This pioneering event underscores Egypt’s dedication to sustaining its rich artistic traditions and nurturing the next generation’s love for culture and creative expression.