YEREVAN, OCTOBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. On October 19, the first All-Armenian Puppet Theater Festival will open simultaneously in 5 Armenian towns: Gyumri, Vanadzor, Gavar, Goris and Stepanakert. The festival that will be held until October 23 is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of foundation of the Puppet Theater in Armenia. As Garnik Guyumjian, Head of State Programs Department of RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs, noted at the October 18 press conference, 22 puppet theater companies from Armenia, Javakhk and Artsakh will perform in Armenian regions and Artsakh. According to him, the holding of such a festival in the regions will stimulate activization of the cultural life: "Today regional creators need theater contacts very much. They need a new word and something new to say." G.Guyumjian said that the puppet festival organized for the first time is a kind of a review aimed at finding out how many puppet theaters were created in Armenia during these years and what professional capabilites they have. According to him, their number exceeds 30 in Yerevan. G.Guyumjian expressed hope that the festival will continue in the future and will involve theater companies of Spyurk as well. The festival will close on October 23 in Yerevan. The participants and theater companies wearing festive clothes and masks will move from Hovhannes Tumanian State Puppet Theater along Abovian street towards Republic Square, then towards the Children's Park where a festive concert accompanied by performances will be held.

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