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The 26th edition (the festival takes place once in two years) will see 18 professional puppet theatres from the Czech Republic and abroad. The audience will see 23 performances in five days, representing the selection of the best of works for children from two to six years of age. The extensive accompanying program is ready as well. The performances will be both indoors and outdoors, at various places in Liberec, Turnov, and Jablonec nad Nisou.
“After more than seven months since the theatres were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are happy to start playing again and the Mateřinka festival can take place as planned. Although the 26th edition will be different from the others from the past, we believe that the audience will enjoy it safely. Fourteen professional puppet theatres from the Czech Republic and four international companies will guarantee a top-notch theatre experience in five festival days, performing more than 20 productions for the youngest audiences. Children and adults can look forward to workshops, concerts, and two exhibitions,” said Kateřina Pavlů, the director of Naïve Theatre.
The main exhibition CHOO. CHOO. WHISTLE. WOOF! opens as early as Friday 21 May in the Small Exhibition Hall in Liberec. The dominant part will the scene from the eponymous successful production, with little trains and beautifully carved puppets of various dog breeds. The exhibition also features photos and art posters with many award-winning plays, including the pandemic ones which remind us of the recent theatre performances on the virtual oNDLine stage.
Mateřinka is a festival of professional puppet theatres, which, as the only one in the Czech Republic and Europe, focuses solely on production for pre-school children. The competing festival program features performances from statutory theatres, independent companies, private ensembles, and soloists. The jury then proposes the most successful ones to be the award winners. Mateřinka is a festival with a long tradition dating back to 1972.
The festival tickets are on sale already, as well as those for regular Saturday performances. The Naïve Theatre will play the performance of Miracle Cabinet or Orbis Pictus for children and parents on 29 May at 10 am. The premiere of the new performance Renard the Fox will be a unique experience, taking place – if the weather is good – on Friday, June 4 at 8 pm outdoors on Dr. E Beneš Square at the occasion of the International Children’s Day.
