Cairo's Master of Puppets is pulling the strings - in pictures

Mohammed Fawzy Bakker shows off his favourite handmade marionettes at a workshop in the Egyptian capital

Egyptian puppeteer Mohamed Fawzy Bakkar, 35, creates marionettes in his workshop in Cairo. Reuters

Puppeteer Mohamed Fawzy Bakkar's workshop in Cairo, Egypt's capital, seen through a hand-made mask. Reuters

A workbench in marionette maker Mohamed Fawzy Bakkar's workshop in Cairo. Puppetry is a traditional art in Egypt, dating back to the rule of the pharaohs and the Ottoman Empire. Reuters

Heba Sharkawy, 28, learns the art of creating traditional had-made Egyptian puppets at Mohamed Fawzy Bakkar's workshop in Cairo. Reuters

The heads of marionettes in Mohamed Fawzy Bakkar's workshop in Cairo. Reuters

Mohamed Fawzy Bakkar with some of his favourite puppets at his Cairo workshop. He is one of a dwindling number of exponents of the traditional Egyptian form of theatre. Reuters

Student Heba Sharkawy at a marionette-making workshop in Cairo given by Egyptian puppeteer Mohamed Fawzy Bakkar. Reuters

Handmade puppets created by Mohamed Fawzy Bakkar. The Egyptian dreams of opening his own puppet theatre in Cairo. Reuters

More from The National:

'Guardians of the Nile' Sudanese and Egyptian joint military exercises - in pictures

On the hunt for endangered animals in Iraq's marshes - in pictures

Iraq faces harsh summer of water shortages as Turkey and Iran continue dam projects

UNRWA school shelters displaced Palestinians – in pictures

Israel and Palestine: What prompted the 11-day violence and what comes next?