Azerbaijani Folk Tale “JırtdaNino”
Age limit: 5+
Author: Parvin Nureliyeva
Stage director: Elshad Rahimzade
Production designer: Nisa Hasanova
Composer: Jahangir Zulfuqarov
Leading cast: Huseyn Bayramov, Shafag Aliyeva, Ramil Shamiloglu, Hokuma Rahimzade, Elgun Yahyayev, Khaliq Bakirov, Kerem Hadizade, Zumrud Guliyeva, Anar Safiyev, Ilhan Sadiqov, Mirza Agha Mirzayev
Performance duration: one act, 1 hour
The Azerbaijani folk tale “Jırtdan” tells the story of a clever boy named Jırtdan who saves children from a mythical creature called the Div. Jırtdan is one of the most famous characters in Azerbaijani folklore. Many people remember the details of the night Jırtdan and his friends spent in the Div’s house. In the middle of the night, the Div entered the room where the children were sleeping and asked: “Who is asleep, who is awake?” Jırtdan answered him: “Everyone is asleep, Jırtdan is awake.” This has become a widely known saying among the people. Since everyone loves Jırtdan, parents also jokingly call their children “Jırtdan” using this phrase. Our performance is also dedicated to the beloved hero of our children — Jırtdan. But what adventures await Jırtdan?
Jırtdan goes to the forest together with the neighbor’s children to gather firewood. On their way back, they lose their path in the darkness. Therefore, they move toward a light they see from afar. Eventually, they arrive at the place where the Div lives. During the night, the monster tries to lure the children in order to eat them.
To save the children from the Div, Nino and his colleagues, sent from the Planet of Scientists, fight to establish peace on Earth. These kind extraterrestrials work hard to keep the world from going out of its orbit. Nino rescues Jırtdan and his friends and takes them to the Planet of Scientists. There, the children study science and safely return to their homes.
This fairy tale performance encourages protecting nature, loyalty in friendship, as well as being educated and strong in struggle.
