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Today, the 4th International TURKSOY Student Theatre Festival opened in Turkistan, bringing together student theatre companies from across the Turkic world on one stage. Students from our university are also participating in the festival.

The festival programme opened with a performance by students of the Acting Arts educational programme at the University’s Faculty of Arts, Media and Design. The aspiring actors staged Chanel No. 5, a play by writer Madina Omarova. The production was directed by Maksat Aitzhanuly, a senior lecturer and holder of the Excellence in Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan title.

The festival’s official opening ceremony took place in the afternoon and was attended by the University’s leadership, staff, and students.

Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Dr Hüseyin Karaman, Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, emphasised the significance of holding this celebration of the arts in Turkistan and at Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University.

“Just as our ancestor Khoja Akhmet Yassawi conveyed his teachings to the people in a language they could understand, theatre serves as a spiritual bridge connecting the spoken word with the audience. Therefore, this festival is not merely an artistic event, but an important gathering that continues the cultural and spiritual continuity of the Turkic world.

You are not only young theatre professionals, but also cultural ambassadors of the Turkic world. During this festival, you will exchange experience, discover different cultures, and establish new creative connections.

May this five-day celebration of the arts bring you new ideas and new friendships. I express my gratitude to all the organisations that supported the festival,” said Hüseyin Karaman.

University Rector Zhanar Temirbekova also addressed the participants:

“Today’s festival is an important initiative that unites the young people of the Turkic world through the arts. Since its establishment, Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University has provided high-quality education to young people from across the Turkic world and implemented numerous projects that bring them closer together.

Turkistan has hosted various festivals bringing together singers, dancers, scholars, and poets. Today, continuing these valuable initiatives, the theatre festival raises its curtain.

Dear students, this festival is for you. We hope that among you there will emerge outstanding professionals capable of introducing new ideas to the Turkic world and changing the world through their creativity. As the distinguished Kazakh poet Magzhan Zhumabayev said, ‘Brave as a lion, courageous as a tiger, and winged with the strength of an eagle—I believe in the youth!’ We believe in you too,” she said.

This year’s festival brings together students and academic staff from three universities in Kazakhstan, as well as universities in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Türkiye.

For our students, the international theatre festival offers an opportunity to gain professional experience, enhance their stage skills, and establish creative connections with young performers from Turkic countries.

Over the coming days, they will participate in the festival’s creative programme and exchange experience with young artists from other countries.

The international celebration of the arts is being held in Turkistan from 5 to 8 October.