The National Puppet Theater of Albania, in collaboration with the Diaspora Theater, held five puppet shows for Albanian children in the United States.

The performances took place in New York and marked a cultural milestone. Children growing up far from Albania had the chance to watch theater in their native language.

Melsi Qirici, Director of the National Center for Children’s Culture, called it “a new chapter of national pride.” The shows stirred strong emotions and were well received by the local Albanian communities and the media.

The newspaper Dielli wrote: “The Puppet Theater’s performances in New York open the curtain on the new school year and open doors for future collaborations.”

The timing was symbolic. The shows coincided with the historic decision to include the Albanian language in official communications within New York public schools.

Vatra in Boston called the performances “a rare and unforgettable moment” for Albanian children, helping them stay connected to their language and heritage.

Director Qirici praised actresses Klaudia Hila, Esmeralda Kame, and Ermonela Alikaj for representing Albanian theater with dignity and passion.

“This is just the beginning of a new mission,” Qirici said. “A mission to bring our theater wherever Albanian is spoken.”

/a.c/