A creative team from Turkmenistan took part in the 4th TURKSOY International Student Theatre Festival, held in the city of Turkistan, Kazakhstan, from October 5 to 9. At the festival, organised with the support of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, the Turkmen students’ stage production Bedew sarpasy won a prize.

Student theatre groups from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Türkiye participated in the international festival. Through their performances, the participants reflected their peoples’ national heritage, traditions and contemporary life.

The festival jury included prominent cultural and artistic figures from the participating countries, among them Ashyrmyrat Gurbanov, a People’s Artist of Turkmenistan.

Students specialising in theatre arts at the State Institute of Culture of Turkmenistan presented the production Bedew sarpasy. The literary basis for the work, which celebrates the famous Akhal-Teke horses—a source of pride for the Turkmen people—was prepared by institute student Shageldi Salyhow, drawing on the books Atda wepa-da bar, sapa-da and Türkmeniň döwletlilik ýörelgesi by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan. The production was staged by Merdan Handurdyýew, a lecturer at the institute.

Following the festival, the Turkmen students’ performance received an award in the “Best Stage Representation of a National Theme” category. The participants were presented with the international festival’s Cup, a certificate of honour from the TURKSOY General Secretariat and Khoja Ahmed Yasawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, as well as a letter of appreciation from the administration of Turkistan.

This achievement is important in promoting on the international stage artistic works dedicated to the national cultural heritage of the Turkmen people and the renown of the Akhal-Teke horses.