TEHRAN- The 15th edition of the Children of Mosque Popular Theater Festival kicked off with a grand ceremony in the historic town of Bafq in central Yazd province on Tuesday.

The event's opening ceremony took place at the Martyrs' Cemetery of Bafq county, attended by cultural officials, local authorities, and various participating theater groups, as announced by the Art Bureau's public relations office. 

The governor of Bafq county welcomed guests at the start of the ceremony, expressing optimism for outstanding performances at the festival and highlighting the significance of hosting such an artistic celebration in Bafq, known as the birthplace of renowned Iranian artists.

Kourosh Zarei, director of the Art Bureau's Center for Dramatic Arts, credited the collaborative efforts of provincial officials for making the festival's inception in Bafq possible, underscoring the presence of esteemed artists like Nasrollah Qaderi, Hossein Fadai Hossein, and Mohammad Reza Azad, who will lead educational workshops and engaging discussions for the next generation of talent in attendance.

Zarei also mentioned the esteemed jury panel that will evaluate the performances of participating groups as the festival progresses.

In closing, he expressed hope that this edition of the festival would bring about inspiring artistic and cultural experiences for the town of Bafq and its residents, fostering a sense of cultural pride and excitement within the community.

During a press conference in Tehran on Sunday, Zarei mentioned that the festival had been suspended for three years to establish the necessary infrastructure and perspectives.

He also highlighted that throughout this hiatus, numerous mosque-based theater groups nationwide were actively staging plays and preparing for the upcoming edition of the festival.

Zarei added that this year's performing plays are the output of 800 theater groups, and efforts are being made to reach out to villages as well.

He emphasized that this theater festival should expand to all corners of Iran in order to discover and guide talents even in the remote areas of the country.

Highlighting the motto of the fifteenth festival as "My Mosque, My Artistic Home," Zarei stressed the intention to merge religious context with artistic themes and attract teenagers to mosques as cultural centers suitable for children to spend their time.

The 15th edition of the Children of Mosque Popular Theater Festival, with the participation of 14 groups of artists in the field of theater in mosques across the country, will run until May 10.

SAB/