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Beez Theatre's "Qarınqulu Ayı Balası" Spreads Messages of Friendship and Community
Ethnic Azerbaijani children of the small town of Gardabani, Georgia, are spreading messages of friendship and community through the ground breaking new junior theatre, Beez.
Image: Onnik James Krikorian
The Beez Azerbaijani Children's Theatre is a unique cultural institution in Gardabani, a small town in the Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia where 65 percent of the population are ethnic Azerbaijani[1]. The theatre was founded three years ago to provide a platform for children to express themselves through theatre and to promote Azerbaijani culture in Georgia.
Image: Onnik James Krikorian
The theatre takes its name from the honeybee and the sound it makes, a fitting symbol of the hard work necessary to foster creativity, imagination, and social skills in children. Combining traditional and modern music, dance, and costumes with modern storytelling techniques, Beez is already creating a unique and engaging experience for audiences of all ages, and has won competitions held by the Georgian Ministry of Culture.
Image: Onnik James Krikorian
Director Binali Islamoglu built the theatre from scratch. From 2006 he had worked as an actor at Tbilisi’s Azerbaijani State Drama Theatre, but in 2020 found himself unemployed thanks to the pandemic. Friends found him work in Gardabani instead.