As part of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality’s programme marking World Theatre Day on 27 March, 350 children enjoyed the staging of The King and the Jester and became part of the art itself through an interactive theatre experience.

The Department of Social Services organised a theatre programme for pupils attending Zarokistan Nursery and Day Care Centre to bring children together with culture and the arts as part of World Theatre Day on 27 March.

As part of the programme, children from Bağcılar and 450 Evler Zarokistan Nursery and Day Care Centres were picked up by shuttle buses together with their teachers and taken to the theatre hall at the Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre.

They did not just watch – they became part of the play

Staged by the Blue Mask Theatre group, The King and the Jester tells the story of a clever jester searching for a remedy for a king suffering from toothache. Going beyond a conventional theatre experience, the performance turned the children into characters in the story as the actors on stage involved the young audience directly in the play.

350 children had a great time

At the performance, attended by 350 children as well as teachers and parents, the young audience joined in the fun through improvised questions directed at them by the actors. Educational messages and anecdotes woven into the performance helped the children both learn and create unforgettable memories.