A joint Syrian-Chinese shadow play at “Al-Qabbani” Theater in Damascus

Al-Qabbani Theater in Damascus hosted a joint performance of a Syrian-Chinese shadow theater work entitled “Karakouz – Ni Hao China,”(Hello China) presented by the Syrian Puppeteer Shadi Hallaq and the representative of the Intangible Heritage Association in China, Zhou Qin.

The show, which was held by the Ministry of Culture – Directorate of Theaters and Music, included a humorous, awareness-raising, and creative dialogue show in a common language between Karakouz and Aywaz, and Jackie Chan.

The show indicated that Jackie Chan’s ancestors came to Syria via the Silk Road to witness the developments and changes brought about by shadow theater in Syria and the impact that the Chinese left on this heritage.

The show explains that the word “Ni Hao” in Chinese means hello, and it also worked to introduce Chinese Kungfu by having puppets embodying these shapes.

In a statement to SANA, the Puppeteer Shadi Hallaq said  that the shadow fantasy theater has been shared between Syria and China since ancient times, stressing that this Syrian openness enhances the role of intangible heritage and is considered a good step because the Republic of China supports people and cultures that contribute to protecting its country’s intangible heritage.

Regarding the importance of China’s participation in preserving the shadow theater art, the representative of the Intangible Heritage Association in China, Zhou Qin, said  that he came to Syria to search for  the master of the shadow theater and to spread through him some Chinese cultures, pointing out that in the coming days he will seek to have joint works between the two friendly countries in the cultural field. .