Mela Festival 2004 in Oslo
Rafi Peer Theater with a puppet show "Earth, Fire and Water" at Mela Festival in Oslo!
/rafi_peer_teater.jpg) "Earth, Fire and Water" is the title of the puppet show that the Rafi Peer Theater will present in Oslo during Mela 2004 Festival at the City Hall square.
Behind this unique puppet show are the Italian puppeteer, Elisabetha Potasso, who constructed and designed the show during her three-moth residency at the Rafi Peer Theatre Museum in Pakistan, and Faizan Peerzada, the Museum's Director.
"Earth, Fire and Water" is a story about the creation of the world with the union of natural elements - fire, water, earth and wind. The conflict arises when the puppet explores the world around it, and discovers that the artificial environment created by humans is killing mother nature.
Ms Potasso is quoted by Daily Times in Pakistan as saying "In this thought provoking performance, we give the message of peace, freedom and hope, that human beings may grow and develop in harmony with their environment and fellow humans".
The Rafi Peer Theatre, which was founded in 1974 has organised some 2,500 performances, bringing together a total of 3,000 plus perfomers from 56 countries.
"We puppeteers will give life to the puppet. It is possible to bring a dream to life with a puppet. It also shows how, with aesthetically precise movements and actions, creative artists can express and communicate their ideas and dreams", says Mr. Faizan Peerzada.
"Earth, Fire and Water" will be performed at the theatre boat Ms Innvik
/faizaan_peerzada.jpg) Faizaan Peerzada - A short biography
Born in Lahore, Pakistan, the son of Pakistan's foremost playwright Rafi Peer, Faizaan began his career at Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop in 1977, which he now heads as its Artistic Director.
Faizaan Peerzada is a puppeteer with distinction and has been awarded the President's medal for the Pride of Performance. He has worked with dedication for several years designing programs to develop children's minds by making them aware of the visual arts, as well as providing opportunities for them to participate in the performing arts. These programs include children art festivals, art workshops and live art demonstrations with children. Faizaan has designed programs to celebrate the International Year of the Child in 1979 spread over the entire year, including three major art festivals in which at least 35,000 children participated in a span of six moths.
Among his merits is the production of over one hundred TV puppet shows both as a director as well as the stage and puppet designer Faizaan Peerzada has also travelled internationally on over seven major international tours and festivals with various productions.
Faizaan has been the integral driving force in creating fifteen International Festivals of Puppets, Theatre, Music and Dance, beginning 1992. These festivals have had participation from 56 countries, with over 3000 artists representing over 300 groups. The Fourth International Puppet Festival 1998 held in Lahore was declared internationally as the biggest international puppet festival in the world.
In 1976 Faizaan held his first painting exhibition at the American Cultural Centre, Karachi which was followed by approximately forty painting exhibitions in Pakistan, and twenty six solo art exhibitions in USA and Europe. His syle is modern expressionism.
Faizaan's fascination for lights over the last two decades has now given him the status of a household name as a lighting designer. He has designed stages and lights for several programs in Pakistan including festivals and several installations for events abroad.
Visual media has also fascinated Faizaan and this has resulted in 'Laatoo', his first documentary with co-director Alix Phillippon. The documentary covers all aspects and problems faced by dancers in Pakistan.
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