New shine for the Zwickau Puppet Theater: Schmidle brings a breath of fresh air!

New shine for the Zwickau Puppet Theater: Schmidle brings a breath of fresh air!

The Zwickau Puppet Theater is getting ready for a breath of fresh air! The new season brings a new director into the house: Christine Schmidle, a proven Shakespeare expert who worked at the renowned Globe Theater in London. Your goal? Not only to bring Zwickau into the world, but also to bring the world to Zwickau. The slogan of their vision couldn’t be more appropriate: “Let Zwickau bloom” – that makes you curious about what’s to come.

The premiere of the classic fairy tale “The Frog Prince” is on the program from November. In spring 2026, visitors can look forward to the play “The Little Us,” which deals with topics such as cohesion and friendship. In addition, the popular adaptation of the classic youth book “Die Welle” will be brought to the stage in June 2026. Revivals of established pieces such as “The Gruffalo” and “The Magic Tree of Dreams” round off the offering. For the first time, the Virtual Puppetry format will also be continued with VR glasses, which will certainly provide a few moments of amazement.

A very special opening spectacle

The new season will be ushered in with a grandiose “opening spectacle” that combines a colorful parade through the city center and an exciting performance in the puppet theater. And the best part? Admission to the opening event is free, which is an invitation to everyone to be part of this special moment.

Christine Schmidle also has support in the management team in the form of Maja Delinić, who is trying her luck as an interim dramaturge. She wants her ideas to reach not only the audience, but also the hearts of people. Her goal is to scatter seeds everywhere: “There is a little garden in every person,” she says. She dreams that stories will grow and then be brought to the stage - and perhaps even her dog Gulliver will play a role in them.

International perspectives on the art of puppetry

However, the developments in the Zwickau puppet theater are not isolated. From July 13 to August 2, the first International School of Puppeteers took place in Russia, organized by the Moscow Obraztsov Puppet Theater. The aim of this event was to exchange experiences and promote young talent from countries such as Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Mexico and more. 36 professional puppeteers, all under 35, took part and gained valuable insights into professional techniques and creative processes that could also be of interest to Zwickau puppeteers. These international contacts could open new horizons for the art form in Zwickau and enable fresh infusions into the local repertoire.

The coming autumn and the associated changes promise an exciting time for the puppet theater in Zwickau. With Christine Schmidle at the helm, who can already look back on an international career, and the creative energy of Maja Delinić, Zwickau may soon be at the top of the list of puppet theater enthusiasts. The anticipation for the new season couldn't be greater!