Call us

June 1 at the National

Jun 04, 2025 Events

IMG-0387-1-1

 

The performance begins as soon as the bell rings. As the lights in the hallway go out and the light behind the stage comes on, various characters come to life on screen, bringing their everyday concerns with them. They display the color palette of their world while arguing, laughing, and making fun of one another. The characters enter into dialogue, engaging the audience. At the end of the performance, the bell rings again, this time signaling the end of the story. The lights in the hall turn on. Men emerge from behind the screen: members of the "Ayrog" group: Armen, Karen, Artur, and Sergey. And who were the heroes of the performance? The children in the hall quickly guessed: Martiros, the Foolish Man, Gharagyoz, the Mouse, and the Tan's Jar (Tan is a juice made from Armenian yogurt) ...

Going from village to village, the so-called "Gharagyoz performer" would study the customs and different characters before basing his performance on them. The same is true of "Ayrogin": the plot of the play is predetermined, and various changes can be made while taking the audience's characteristics into account during the performance. The theater troupe has fully preserved the approaches to performing shadow theater, which has an ancient history. #Ayrogi_Shadow_Theater_at_the_National

text