an unemployed actor was hired as a stagehand for a touring puppet show.  During the   tour, the puppeteers allowed him to operate the puppets and magically, the out of   work actor/stagehand was transformed into a puppeteer.

  Traveling and performing for the Vagabond Marionettes led to four years as a resident   puppeteer at the Center for Puppetry Arts.  While participating in the Xperimental   Puppet Theatre (XPT) Akbar was encouraged to try storytelling without puppets.  And   Voila!!! A storyteller/puppeteer was born. 

  Since 1985 Akbar traveled throughout the Southeast capturing and enrapturing his   audiences with his old Samsonite suitcases filled with puppets and props that   semi- magically becomes a puppet stage.