As part of events commemorating Omar Khayyam, Central BookCity’s children’s section hosted “A Star from Nishapur (Khayyam)” on 18 May 2026 (28 Ordibehesht 1405). Attended by thirty children, the interactive programme used puppetry and storytelling to present the life and achievements of the celebrated Iranian mathematician, astronomer and poet.
Performed by puppeteers and storytellers Mozhgan Ghanbari and Hossein Shavandi, the show featured two puppet characters, “the Boy” and “the Man,” who narrated Khayyam’s youth and later life. The opening introduced children to major figures in Iranian science. Complex subjects—including the precision of the Jalali calendar, calculations of lunar and solar eclipses, tides, Khayyam’s innovations in algebra and geometry, the Khayyami measuring device, and a star named after him—were explained through simple, story-led language suited to young audiences.
The stage design used related props and symbols—including a telescope, a Khayyami measuring device, astronomical notes on the seasons and copies of Khayyam’s Rubaiyat—to create a tangible scientific and historical setting. Quizzes and interactive conversations were woven through the performance to encourage inquiry, invite children to read, and help them feel at home in the bookshop.
In the final section, the performers gave a simple explanation of puppet-making techniques and invited the children to try puppeteering themselves. “A Star from Nishapur” concluded with a small painting workshop in which the children put their imaginative responses to Khayyam, his stories and his scientific achievements onto paper.
Tags: BookCity, Central BookCity, Children, Omar Khayyam, Puppetry
