The Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) opened its doors to book lovers, providing them with a wide array of books and a suitable atmosphere to read them.
As part of Sharjah Heritage Days, the institute sought to organize reading sessions. Families can read in the “My Family and I read” corner, where visitors can read, choose from the available books and take part in reading circles.
Close to SIH, at the heritage area at Heart of Sharjah, a shadow theater wall was put up. Various forms move on its surface, some of them resembling birds or other animals, telling stories to visitors of the 18th edition Sharjah Heritage Days.
The organizers hope to reinvigorate shadow theater, which has been declining over the past few years due to the rise of various forms of digital entertainment.
Tunisian Najib Kharroubi, who manages the shadow theater performances, says it “provides an opportunity to teach youths and children how to discover their creative and artistic abilities.”
He emphasized that through shadow theater, many shapes of animals and birds can be depicted. “There are many forms and paintings that can be embodied in the shadow theater using one’s fingers, as well as the movement of the body, to create the desired forms.”
Kharroubi added that “shadow theater could expand the horizons of the children’s imagination in particular, and it leaves the shapes and stories that we present to them in their memories,” indicating that most of the stories presented during the event are improvised.
“There are many stories in our Arabic library that can be translated into shadow theater in a manner suitable for all ages.” Kharroubi said.
According to him, shadow theater was originally a Chinese folk art that moved from China and India to the Arab world and became very popular here.
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