Can You Handle 14 Puppet Shows In One Week?

As you know, Germany is full of unique festivals and celebrations. Many of these celebrations are based on our rich history and legends. Nowhere is this illustrated better than in the Schwarzwald a.k.a. Black Forest, where many of Germany’s best stories have been born.

If you are up to an exceptional dose of culture, you will want to head to the Black Forest town of Gernsbach this next week. Each year just before Easter, the town hosts one of Europe’s premier puppet festivals.

The Gernsbacher Puppentheaterwoche (Gernsbach Puppet Theater Week) attracts the top puppeteers from Germany and Austria. For one week straight they stage performances for adults and children. Some are light-hearted and funny, while others are darker artistic pieces.

No matter the subject, the visual experience is superb. Many of the puppets are made by hand especially for the event. With intricate costumes and sets, the stories really come to life in ways that can make you forget there are any human performers involved!

For 2010, there will be more than 14 puppet performances. Some will be traditional stories for children, while others, like Caravaggio, are original works design specifically for the festival. There are performances each day of the festival, which is being held March 20 – 27 this year.

Even if you can’t make a performance, you will still want to head to Gernsbach for the workshops and exhibitions. You can see museum displays of historical puppets made in Germany at both the town hall and the main library.

If you’ve ever thought of trying your own hand at being a puppet master, then you will want to attend some of the workshops. There are workshops for children’s entertainment, but there are also in-depth teaching events for those with an interest in being on stage.

Tickets for the day and evening shows are available from the town culture and tourist office at +49-7224-644-44 or by email through touristinfo@gernsbach.de.

It’s a novel festival with a lot of culture packed into just seven short days, so try to find at least one day where you can visit!

—Marcus