The grand opening of the III International Theatre Festival took place in Ashgabat. The festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, brought together 14 theatre groups representing 12 states, including Afghanistan, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, the United States of America, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Estonia. Our country is represented by drama groups of leading theatres. The venue for the opening ceremony was the Main Drama Theatre of Turkmenistan. The hosts of the festival – artists in significant for the Turkmen people’s history images – Oguzkhan, Gorkut Ata, Gyorogly and Magtymguly. The ancient Turkmen dance kushtdepi, performed at the end of the festive composition, emphasized the humanistic orientation of the idea laid down into the basis of the international festival, bringing together representatives of different nations. Drama artists - participants in the theatre festival, dressed in bright national costumes appeared on the stage under the flags of their states. The welcome address of the President of Turkmenistan to the participants of the festival was presented during the opening ceremony. Theatre groups, representing different countries greeted the audience with original mini-performances, reflecting the creative credo of their theaters. The artists spoke with the audience in the languages of dance, pantomime, music and songs, facial expressions of dolls and, of course - Words, finding understanding and a lively response from the audience. Emphasizing the importance of the current festival in strengthening international humanitarian cooperation, the guests expressed their willingness to present their creative gifts to the Turkmen people - various productions that will take place on the stages of the Ashgabat theatres during the week. The festival started with the “Magtymguly” play at Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre – a dedication to the great Turkmen poet-thinker, whose image and creativity inspire more than one generation of figures of national culture. In the evening, spectators were invited to Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theatre to enjoy the an Italian opera Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo in the Turkmen-Italian stage impersonation.