UK-Based Arab Puppet Theatre Foundation Brings Puppetry and Storytelling to Hayy Jameel

A collaboration at Ramadan Nights: Hakawati Hayy brought together the UK-based Arab Puppet Theatre Foundation, Hayy Jameel and local creatives in Jeddah through a public programme centred on puppetry, storytelling and shared cultural memory.

Event Details

Ramadan Nights: Hakawati Hayy

25 February to 15 March 2026

Hayy Jameel, Jeddah

The third edition of Ramadan Nights: Hakawati Hayy took place at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah from 25 February to 15 March 2026, presenting a public programme shaped around storytelling traditions, puppetry and community participation. The programme drew on the legacy of the hakawati, alongside folktales from the Hejaz and shared forms of gathering across generations.

At the centre of this year’s edition was a collaboration with the Arab Puppet Theatre Foundation (APTF), alongside local creatives, makers and community groups. The programme explored the history of Arab puppetry, rituals and shadow theatre through performance, play and collective engagement.

The involvement of APTF introduced a clear international dimension. Founded in 2008, the organisation works to promote and preserve puppetry across the Arab world, with a current base in London. Its association with the Arab British Centre further situates the collaboration within a broader UK–Saudi cultural context.

A defining aspect of the programme was its connection to place. Puppetry was not presented as a standalone form, but integrated within a wider cultural setting shaped by Hejazi storytelling, Ramadan traditions and communal experience. In this context, it became a medium for performance, memory and public engagement.

The programme also included practical components. Hayy Jameel hosted The Art of Shadow Puppet Making, a workshop led by Mahmoud Al Hourani, Dana Ruqti and Abeer Abazeed from the Arab Puppet Theatre Foundation. The session introduced participants to shadow puppetry through design, movement and light, reinforcing the programme’s emphasis on making and participation.

This collaboration aligns with Hayy Jameel’s wider role as a creative hub developed by Art Jameel, bringing together local communities and international partners. By connecting a UK-based organisation with Saudi practitioners, the programme highlights how cultural exchange can be realised through accessible, community-focused initiatives.

More than a seasonal programme, Ramadan Nights: Hakawati Hayy reflects how puppetry can function as a living form that bridges heritage and contemporary practice, while supporting dialogue across cultural contexts.