EVERY SECOND year, puppeteers from theatres around the world gather in Bratislava to present their latest creations at a biennial puppet festival. This year between June 13 and 16, the puppet performances will play in two venues: the Bratislava Puppet Theatre at Dunajská 36, and the Academy of Performing Arts.
The productions are always a big attraction for children, of course, but there will be much here of interest to adults as well.
The biennial festival was launched in 2005, with the focus on fairy tales by renowned Slovak writer Pavol Dobšinský. This year’s theme will be “The Great World of Small Heroes.”
Apart from the host theatre, ensembles from Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belarus, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and from the Slovak town of Žilina will present productions, Lujza Kittlerová of the organising theatre said. From Czech and Hungarian fairy tales, through German limericks and poems, to more contemporary stories such as a Belarusian play about Mozart's rival Salieri, intended for adults – the festival can offer something for many tastes.
Apart from the puppet performances, there will be an exhibition of the work of students of puppetry, a circus workshop and musical performances in the park across the street from the puppet theatre.
The productions will be performed in various languages, but except for one, they will not be translated. The full programme can be found – including in English – at www.babkovedivadlo.sk.
