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.
Ramadan Nights: Hakawati Hayy took place from 25 February to 15 March 2026 at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. The third edition presented a public programme shaped around storytelling traditions, puppetry, and community participation, drawing 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 and currently based in London, the organisation works to promote and preserve puppetry across the Arab world. 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 was 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.
