Copenhagen Puppet Festival

Copenhagen Puppet Festival – International Co-operation

In recent years puppetry has developed dramatically. Classic puppet theatre has been mixed with modern technology, and a new theatre form developed. A fusion which has made its mark on the professional theatre in amongst other places London and Berlin.

For some years now Børnekulturstedet and Kultur Vesterbro have been building up the puppet theatre scene in Copenhagen, Denmark by presenting performances and workshops with leading artists from home and abroad. The experience gained now culminates in Copenhagen Puppet Festival, which runs from February 7th – 11th.

The main aim of the festival is to entertain, challenge and stimulate the audience with performances for adults as well as children. Another important aim is to give both the public and performers a chance to delve deeper into this creative medium through debates, talks and question-and-answer sessions. The festival will offer a meeting place for leading professionals in the field of international puppetry.

UNIMA International Forum
The Danish division of the international organisation UNIMA, which works to develop puppet theatre as an art form, will arrange three round- table discussions during the festival. Experts from Norway, Denmark, England, Holland, France, Slovenia, Poland and Serbia will focus on some of the problems and challenges facing puppet and animation theatre today. “It is a unique opportunity to get a feeling of what is happening around Europe” says Lucille Bodson, the leader of “Institut International de la Marionnette” in Charleville, France. The institute is considered to be one of the leading schools and research centres for puppetry in the world, as well as being behind “Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes” – unquestionably the world´s biggest festival and showplace for puppetry.
There is free admittance for the debates.

Nordic partners
The festival has received broad backing from Danish sponsors and funds, as well as being actively supported by a number of other organisations. Amongst others, Nordland Visual Theatre (Figurteatret in Nordland), North Norway, has offered the festival technical equipment and support. Nordland Visual Theatre works to promote puppet theatre in Scandinavia, and offers groups from all over the world accommodation, and production and tours.
It is true to the spirit of the festival, that people in this branch help each other, exchange experiences and ideas, and in the case of Nordland provide equipment and expertise. This underlines the fact that Copenhagen Puppet festival is not just a Danish event.
“With this initiative Copenhagen puppet Festival is making a valuable contribution to puppet theatre in Scandinavia” says Preben Faye-Schjøll, artistic leader of Nordland Visual Theatre. “The festival offers international puppet theatre of a high standard, as well as giving Scandinavian puppeteers and organisers the chance to make important contacts with foreign colleagues”

Practical information
Copenhagen Puppet Festival takes place from February 7th – 11th at Enghavevej 42 and Lyrskovsgade 4. The four venues – Basement, Børnekulturstedet, Vesterbro Kulturhus and Vesterbro Bibliothek, are situated in the same building complex.

Tickets can be bought in “Informationen” at Vesterbro Kulturhus, Lyrskovsgade 4,3. floor. Monday – Thursday 12.00 – 20.00. Friday-Sunday 12.00 – 17.00. Tickets can be booked by phone 70 22 29 50 (Option 3 Information). Monday – Thursday from 16.00 – 20.00. Friday – Sunday 12.00 – 17.00.

For further information see: www.puppetfestival.dk

Copenhagen Puppet Festival is arranged by Kultur Vesterbro and Børnekulturstedet

Contact person: Barnaby Stig Swann Pedersen, telephone 27 15 11 74: bpeder@kff.kk.dk