With the support of the Corporate Foundation Creative Industries Development Foundation and organized by Bibigul Makazhanova, founder of Central Asia Creative Hub and a producer, the international Qazaq Seasons project took place in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

From August 28 to 30, as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, one of the world’s largest theatre festivals, the productions Kulager, Zhurmbek Zhuke, and The Tin Drum were presented to an international audience.

Qazaq Seasons is an international platform dedicated to promoting contemporary Kazakhstani culture globally, expanding the audience for local creative projects, and fostering professional connections. The inaugural edition of the project focused on contemporary theatre.

The screenings took place in central Edinburgh at C ARTS | C aquila, located near the famous Royal Mile. The Kazakhstani productions were presented to an international audience in the form of digital screenings — recordings of stage performances shown on a large screen. This format made it possible to introduce international audiences and theatre professionals to contemporary Kazakhstani theatre regardless of geographical boundaries. The project also aimed to establish new professional connections for Kazakhstani theatre practitioners, strengthen international cooperation, and create opportunities for future joint projects.

As part of the festival, audiences were introduced to the sound drama Kulager, staged by the Gabit Musrepov State Academic Kazakh Theatre for Children and Young People and based on the celebrated poem by Ilyas Zhansugurov. The story of the poet Akan Seri and his legendary racehorse Kulager unfolds through music, movement, and rhythm. The production was directed by Farkhat Moldagali, with choreography by Adilet Tamenov. The musical score incorporates works by the group Steppe Sons.

The international audience was also presented with Kazakh theatre and film actress Inzhu Abeu’s documentary solo performance Zhurmbek Zhuke. The production is based on the life story of her grandfather, Zhurmbek Zhuke, one of the pioneers of hydrogeology in Soviet Kazakhstan. Drawing on memoirs, diaries, and photographs preserved in the family archive, the performance explores the bonds between generations, the nature of memory, and the fate of an individual.

The production of the independent Almaty-based ARTиШОК Theatre, The Tin Drum, was presented as a theatrical reinterpretation of the renowned novel by Nobel Prize laureate Günter Grass. Director and set designer Anton Bolkunov combines music, extreme vocals, movement, and elements of visual theatre to create a distinctive stage language for the work. Through the story of Oskar Matzerath, the production explores questions of personal choice, conformity, and an individual’s responsibility for what happens around them.

Support for Qazaq Seasons forms part of the Foundation’s broader efforts to promote representatives of Kazakhstan’s creative industries internationally and strengthen the export potential of local creative projects. Through the initiative, contemporary works of Kazakhstani theatre were presented to both the professional community and audiences at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Taking Kazakhstani productions to international stages not only raises their global visibility but also opens up opportunities for theatre companies and independent artists to find new partners, develop professional networks, and build future international collaborations.

Qazaq Creative — the Creative Industries Development Foundation — will continue to support initiatives that help Kazakhstan’s creative industries enter international markets and bring local creative projects to the global stage.