Tbilisi’s world-unique Shadow Hand Theatre marks 25th anniversary

One of Georgia's most unique theatre troupes is celebrating its 25th anniversary tonight with a festive show at the iconic Rustaveli Theatre in capital Tbilisi.

The Budrugana Gagra Shadow Hand Theatre will gather several generations of its artists for tonight’s special show, starting at 7.30pm.

The Budrugana Gagra Shadow Hand Theatre troupe was established by Gela Kandelaki in 1991 and is the world's only theatre that uses only the bodies of its artists in its performances, unlike other groups who use puppets in their shows.

Tonight the troupe will perform The Four Seasons of the Year. The 90-minute show will commemorate the first ever performance of the Budrugana Gagra Shadow Hand Theatre in Paris, France, 25 years ago when the troupe celebrated its creation with the same piece.

The Budrugana Gagra Shadow Hand Theatre troupe is the world's only shadow theatre only using body shadows in their productions. Photo from the Theatre/Facebook.

Assembled mainly by refugees fleeing the early 1990s conflict in Georgia's breakaway region Abkhazia, the Budrugana Gagra Shadow Hand Theatre group’s 1991 appearance was part of the international festival Les Semaines De La Marionette a Paris in the French capital.

Since its establishment 25 years ago Kandelaki's group performed at international puppet festivals in the United States, Germany and more.

In recent years the theatre group has also performed at the Georgian International Festival of Arts, and in March the company opened this year's Contemporary Music Evenings Tbilisi.

Under the direction of Kandelaki, the troupe has staged more than 300 productions – most of which were charitable events that raised money for refugees and homeless children.