THE 5th Shanghai International Puppet Festival, a program of the 18th China Shanghai International Arts Festival will run from November 3 to 8.

Well-known puppet troupes from France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Serbia, Spain and China will present around 30 performances for local children and puppetry enthusiasts.

The plays are mainly based on folklores, fables and classics fairytales of these countries. Elements of modern dance, shadow play, music are featured in the performances.

Among the highlights are "The Curious Little Elephant" from the Puppet Theater of Zilina, "The Snowman Who Wants to Meet the Sun" from XZART, "Fables From Shadows" from Theater for the Children Kragujevac, "The Legend of Nezha" from Mingxingge Puppet Theater and "The Tale of Mulan" from Shanghai Puppet Theater.

The festival will be a rare chance to display a high level of artistry and creativity. Audiences can also interact with the puppet characters during the shows.

During the festival, a jury panel of theater critics and artists will also select shows of the best story, visual effects, music, creativity and performance.