Kajaran’s Puppet Theatre Performances at “Hayartun” Center

On May 2, 2026, with the blessing and best wishes of His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, the Diocesan educational, cultural, and youth “Hayartun center, hosted the “Arev” puppet theatre troupe of the Kajaran Art School (a non-commercial organization in the Republic of Armenia). The troupe, composed of schoolchildren aged 10–14, was led by Artur Gabrielyan, Artistic Director of the Alexander Shirvanzade State Theatre of Kapan; Armine Tumanyan, Director of the Kajaran Art School; Narek Israelyan, ceramics teacher at Kajaran Art School, with the support of Manvel Paramazyan, Head of the Kajaran community.

The cooperation between the Kapan State Theatre and the “Hayartun” Center spans several years and is marked by a warm, friendly spirit and frequent exchanges. Following welcoming remarks by Eugenia Markosyan, Director of the “Hayartun” Center, and Artur Gabrielyan, Artistic Director of the theatre, the “Arev” puppet troupe, founded just a year ago at the Kajaran Art School, presented the performance “Once Upon a Time”, based on the fairy tales of Hovhannes Tumanyan.

The masterful manipulation of the puppets, their expressive movements, and the actors’ well-coordinated voices and speech brought excitement, strong engagement, and a joyful atmosphere to the young audience, while adults watched with admiration as the fairy-tale characters were vividly and faithfully brought to life. The performance, presented in two sessions, was accompanied by warm applause and undisguised delight.

Following the blessing and closing remarks of Rev. Father Hovsep Harutyunyan, the members of the “Arev” puppet theatre troupe of the Kajaran Art School received surprise-filled gifts from the international Christian charitable organization “Samaritan’s Purse”.

The visit of the guests from Kajaran to the capital of Georgia will continue with a tour of Tbilisi’s landmarks and a visit to the “House of Hovhannes Tumanyan” Center for Science and Culture of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.