Tarlan Gorchu, a young artist and theatre director studied puppet theatre traditions of Azerbaijan (kilimarasyh ("carpet-stage"), shadow theatre), and the rich traditions of other countries, (Far East, Europe) as well. His goal was to create in Baku a marionette theatre. Tarlan, as a key director in the mid-1980s of the A.Shaiq State Puppet Theatre; this positioned him to where he turn his dream into reality. Joining together with a team of like minds, and refining the art form with the help of the likes of Rezo Gabriadze, from the famous theatre of maestro in Tbilisi - the aim was finally fulfilled. Not wasting time visiting official structures, to formally "give born" to new theatres in former USSR with a stamp, he just did it … transforming his art studio into a creative workshop. It all came together with the performance Azerbaijan marionette musical show - puppet version of the "Arshin Mal Alan" by great Uzeyir Hajibayov - had started there.

   "ARSHIN MAL ALAN"
   The choice of the first play was a declaration of the creative image and uniqueness of the future Baku Marionette Theatre.
"Arshin Mal Alan" is a first musical comedy which was created in 1913 on a wave of the oil boom. The world was taken by its cheerful plot and unmatched music. Translated into 69 languages, performed in 120 theatres spread across continents and 49 countries. This legacy is one of the most valuable pearls the cultural wealth of our people. The choice of the "Arshin Mal Alan" for the marionette theatre meant joining culture and great masters.
A performance requires the combining of classical opera and operetta of Azerbaijan, classical Oriental music, lyrics and fairy tales.
   Tarlan dream began to involve in 1985 into a theatrical project with many artists, but only two from among them became solid adherents: Abas Mustafayev (performance sets) and Elman Mirzayev (marionette puppets). Artistic concept of the show was built on the top of a no-holds barred approach, hyperrealism in all visual elements, created by Tarlan and his friends. Three years of hard work went into bringing forth new stage of amazing beauty, and majority of marionettes of the future performance.
   The stage performance extended to other nations. A marionette version of "Arshin Mal Alan" was held in Carpentras, "Vocluse Demanche" a local paper in France described it under the following headline: "Marionettes, Are able to Do Everything!" The show was successful and when the tour was scheduled to end, the theatre was asked to extend their stay and give more house filled performances. Shortly thereafter the theatre troupe traveled to the festival of culture of Azerbaijan in Ankara. The marionette heroes of the "Arshin Mal Alan" had also appeared on stages in Tampa, Florida.
   The creative team's was inspired with the success of its very first show, which began with the marionette version of another stage masterpiece under the direction of U.Hajibeyov - the "Leyli and Majnun" opera. At the same time, they had started to produce marionettes for the original musical show on oriental motives, including fairy tales of the "1001 night" and adventures Molla Nasraddin - the national favorite of Azeris. But, in spite of the best wishes of the UTM leaders (Lutfiyar Imanov, and then Hasanagha Turabov), that used to provide their patronage to the theatre, hardtimes hit the show. Financial support and audiences decreased as did other sectors of the economy with the collaspe of the Soviet Union. Difficult times had fallen upon both Azerbaijan and the Marionette Theatre.
   Working become a difficult task and the independent theatrical troupe "Buta" agreed to become part of a structure managed by the Baku Municipality. It turned into a municipal theatre, and as a result of its new status, some basic repair were made to the building. However, financing of new performances still a dream. And resulting from difficulties of the Nation as a whole we are now faced with have both a possible surplus and shortage at the same time. It took the personal contribution of the staff to make the show continue - their sweat and donated labor.
   Now - on the contrary, every member of the troupe should permanently receive additional earnings, as a real source for living, and still find power for the creation of all his life - for the theatre. All these years the theatre rents a space from time to time where it can arrange training performances. This connects the old generation with the new - the purpose to support the class of old puppeteers, as they train newcomers and to renew the technical base of the theatre's single performance. Moonlighting income of artists and actors cannot be enough for financing greater activities! So, they cannot share with the world the richness of the culture. Often times they had to decline invitations to the West for lack of any money. Already the outflow of professionals was well underway for economic reasons.
   All works in the theatre building stopped with lacks of funds and a future that was in question. Moreover, it was impossible to keep up with the latest technology in lighting and theatrical props. It seemed as if nobody cared for either the theatre or its future; yet another more step down the road of lost cultural traditions and good intentions. This happened while everybody looked-on. But the show must somehow go on. Every beginner, who comes to the theatre to replace the retiring puppeteer replaces lost hope with new hope, BUT this still is not enough - it takes more than the loveof the work to have successful performances. Funding and staff is reduced to near nothing and paid positions are few. And even those who get paid, the salary sum of this "highest" is but 23 dollars - nevertheless the show goes on. Hasanagha Qurbanov, the new head of the Baku Municipal Cultural Office attempts to promote restoration and new birth in the arts. This is no easy task!
   Let us look in retrospect - all is relative to time, returning to the beginning of the article and the oil boom, the turn of the century - all which had a positive influence on the development of our county. Culture and development of go hand in hand. It was the oil boom and international companies that supported the birth of such graceful and monumental performances, as the "Arshin Mal Alan" musical comedy. "Azerbaijan Today" … Azerbaijan again lives with raised hopes of the oil boom - a new and even more powerful wave - it is natural to also hope for the new boom in the patronage of arts. The history of many countries demonstrates symbiosis of business and culture, a natural and fruitful - union.