DUSHANBE, April 6, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The International Theater Festival, Navrouz-2011, has opened in Dushanbe today.

According to the Ministry of Culture (MoC), professional theatres from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan have arrived in Tajikistan to participate in the festival, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Tajikistan Independence.

The source at a MoC says, the performance “Roudaki,” based on the novel of the same name by known Tajik writer Sotim Ulugh-zoda, has opened the festival at Tajik Academic Drama Theatre named after Abulqosim Lohouti.

In the afternoon, the performance “Ovora” (Rover) by the Turkmen Experimental Single-Player Theater will be shown at Russian Drama Theater named after Vladimir Mayakovsky.

Theaters from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will show their performances on April 7 and 8, the source said.

The Navrouz theater festival, conducted in Tajikistan annually, aims to promote strengthening of cultural cooperation in the region.