TEHRAN – A museum opened in downtown Tehran on Saturday for the traditional Iranian puppet show, kheimeh shab-bazi.

Kheimeh shab-bazi is performed in a small chamber by a musical performer and a person called a morshed (mentor). The dialogue takes place between the morshed and the puppets, specifically the traditional Iranian puppet Mobarak.

Actress Setareh Eskandari who is the manager of the museum said, “The door of the museum is open to all the masters and researchers. We aim to preserve documents to help the researchers and familiarize people and students with this type of Iranian puppet show.” 

Veteran kheimeh shab-bazi expert Davud Fat’halibeigi praised those who have exerted great efforts in establishing the museum.

He said that he is sure the movement made by cultural figures would not let Persian cultural heritage sink into oblivion.

Mohammadreza Kargar, the director of Iran’s Museums and Historical Properties Office, lauded Eskandari who spent her time and energy to revive part of Iran’s cultural heritage.

The opening ceremony of the museum went on with honoring kheimeh shab-bazi master Morteza Khamsei for his lifetime achievements in this art after which Siavash Sattari performed a kheimeh shab-bazi performance.

Ehteram Borumand, Azadeh Purmokhtar, Hormoz Hedayat, Afsaneh Mahian and Homa Jeddikar were among the participating artists. 

The Kheimeh Shab-bazi Museum of Iran is located at the Mana Art and Culture House on Vesal St., off Keshavarz Blvd.

Photo: Siavash Sattari performs a kheimeh shab-bazi during the inauguration ceremony of the Kheimeh Shab-bazi Museum of Iran on March 17, 2019. (Honaronline/Mehdi Azadbakht)

RM/MMS/YAW