Leading the Stage: Armenuhi Manukyan on the Legacy and Future of the Gyumri Puppet Theater
The «Մենք Մերոնցով» (Menk Merontsov) program recently welcomed Armenuhi Manukyan, Director and Artistic Director of the Stepan Alikhanyan Puppet Theater in Gyumri, to discuss her artistic journey, the unique challenges of puppet performance, and the theater’s ambitious vision for its 90th anniversary. As the first state puppet theater in Armenia and the entire Caucasus, the Gyumri Puppet Theater holds a culturally significant place in the country’s performing arts landscape.
Gyumri Puppet Theater – Armenuhi Manukyan Interview
The Stepan Alikhanyan Puppet Theater in Gyumri is the first state puppet theater in Armenia and the Caucasus. Under the guidance of Armenuhi Manukyan, the theater preserves its rich tradition while embracing innovative projects for young audiences.
An Accidental Path to Directorship
Manukyan’s career began at the Gyumri branch of the Yerevan State Institute of Cinema and Theater, where she studied directing. Although her family encouraged her to follow her father’s path in law, she was drawn to art, painting, singing, and stagecraft. Directing became a way to unite these passions.
Interestingly, she recalls that she did not initially like puppet art. Only later did she understand that this connection existed unconsciously since childhood, remembering how she created puppet-like shows with bedsheets and shadows during the difficult post-earthquake years.
Her first professional experience with puppetry came by chance after graduation, when she was asked to stage a performance at the Gyumri Puppet Theater. She directed Hovhannes Tumanyan’s “The White Snake” («Ճերմակ օձը»), despite knowing little about the craft at the time. She remained part of the creative staff for 17 years.
Her appointment as Director came unexpectedly, driven unanimously by the staff when former director Levon Baghdasaryan retired. According to Manukyan, figures such as Meline Simonyan and Garnik Petrosyan had long believed she was destined to lead the theater.
The Philosophy of Puppet Theater
Manukyan emphasizes that performing for children is both rewarding and demanding. She notes that children are an exceptionally honest audience — “like an X-ray,” as she describes — immediately sensing insincerity. Unlike dramatic theater, where an actor can influence an adult audience more easily, puppetry requires total authenticity.
In puppet art, the performer must transmit their entire emotional energy into an inanimate object, making it feel alive for the audience. Physical appearance becomes secondary; the emotional connection is what matters.
One of the major changes under her leadership is a new tradition: after performances, actors now appear on stage alongside their puppets for the final bow. Although the previous belief was that revealing the actors would break the magic, Manukyan insists that children benefit from seeing the real person behind the character, without losing their emotional attachment to the puppet.
Modernization and Technical Improvements
The theater recently emerged from a difficult period but has experienced significant renewal. Several upgrades have been made:
- Installation of modern stage lighting
- Acquisition of a generator system to prevent interruptions during power outages
- Renovation of the second floor
- Ongoing work to refurbish the children’s auditorium on the first floor
Manukyan describes her team as professional, loyal, and harmonious, united by a shared love for their craft.
Major Events Planned for the 90th Anniversary
As the theater approaches its 90th anniversary, preparations are underway for a series of important cultural events. Among the highlights:
- A Citywide Carnival Program: A special outdoor celebration in one of Gyumri’s central areas.
- New Year Performances: Two new productions are in development for the holiday season.
- “The Scribe” («Գրչի»): A new piece featuring actor Arthur Bekchanyan, combining minimal puppetry with dramatic acting.
- Avetik Isahakyan 150th Anniversary: A staging of “The Smart Ones of the City” («Քաղաքի խելոքները»), accompanied by puppets of Armenian cultural icons like Isahakyan and Tumanyan.
- Participation in the Lori Festival: The theater will present a dramatic performance of “Rikitiki Tavi” at the 31st Lori Festival in Alaverdi.
A Message to Parents and the Community
Manukyan concludes with an appeal to parents to bring their children to the theater more often. She stresses the importance of balancing digital content like YouTube and online entertainment with real artistic and emotional experiences. She also wishes the Armenian people kindness, strength of character, and the ability to live joyfully and remain positive examples for society.