One such arrival was a lady named Irina. Irina seemed like most people in the glistening city; she lived with her family and enjoyed the lifestyle, but if you looked a little closer, you would see a fire blazing right in the middle of each of her eyes. Irina had a secret, one that was filled with magic. A magic she was about to unravel to the people of the city; a magic introduced as The Golden Fox, Abu Dhabi’s first puppet theatre.
The curtain opens
Irina Kohn is a puppeteer from St Petersburg and an expert in the world of fairy tales. In the coming months, Irina will open The Golden Fox at the Abu Dhabi Theatre and prepare for a performance of Anderson’s classic tale The Princess and the Pea.
“I like Anderson. He’s actually one of my favorite fairy tale writers,” declares Irina. “His stories are always focused upon a search for identity.”
“My first puppet show was actually Princess and the Pea. It was so successful that I think it would be great to do it again here in Abu Dhabi.”
Puppet passion
Irina’s passion for fairy tales seems quite unique. Her knowledge of not only Anderson’s work , but classical tales such as the Brothers Grimm, their origins and the morals behind the tales is alluring. Listening to her, I felt that I’d opened up a rich treasure chest, and Irina was holding the lantern introducing me to a new world – a world occupied by puppets,
“I used to work with children teaching English as a second language,” explains Irina. “During one of my classes, I decided to use puppets. The reaction was incredible. Puppets have an amazing affect on children. They mesmerize, attract and unleash the imagination.”
“With puppets I discovered that not only can a teacher inspire a pupil, but the world of puppets opens up the unlimited imagination of a child. Naïve emotions are one of the most valuable in a creative process.”
Involving children
The children becoming part of the creative process seems an understatement. Irina’s puppet theatre is one of collaboration and dedication by each member of the theatre.
“In our first meeting, we look at the script and discuss the writer and the story elements,” said Irinia. “We then go on to decide who wants to take on which roles. The puppeteers choose their own characters, and we take into consideration what they see and visualize. We have table reads of the script and it’s always interesting to see how the children automatically start developing their own characters.”
Then the real work begins! The children become involved in all aspects of the theatre – creating the puppets, the scenery, the costumes and the special effects. Irina also brings in young musicians whom will decide upon and perform the score.
“No one is left out. There’s too much work to do!” exclaims Irina.
Creating the magic
Listening to Irina made me nostalgic for my own childhood. Creating a performance from scratch would have certainly been an inspirational journey at a young age. But it did occur to me whether I would have had the courage to perform in a prestigious venue like the Abu Dhabi Theatre,
“This is where the magic really is – it’s not the child, it’s the puppet,” said Irina, with that familiar gleam in her eye. “There is no barrier. You see, the child doesn’t see themselves as the performer – they can do anything, even mistakes! It’s not them, it’s the puppet. It’s hard work though, learning lines and managing the puppet, but by the end, they all transform into professional puppeteers.”
A happy ending
Irina Kohn’s passion for fairy tales is enchanting and contagious. Her craft in communicating to children through puppetry and theatre is one to be admired and respected. I, for one, look forward to seeing the children of our desert metropolis create their own Princess and the Pea, a timeless tale which reminds us to always believe in and be who we are.
The Golden Fox is inviting the children of Abu Dhabi between the ages of 10 to 15 to come and join. Email Irina at iykhon@gmail.com to discover more.
