Puppetry as an artform

This year’s festival is strictly for adults

Ella Navarro

May 14, 2015

Who said puppets were only for kids? The Copenhagen Puppet Festival will prove you wrong. And besides, children aren’t allowed in anyway (and they get their own festival next year!).

This year’s edition includes shows, film screenings, presentations and more – all based on an overall theme: ‘Puppets in politics’. Now, maybe you never thought politics could be entertaining, but puppeteers have since the dawn of time been masters at satirising and allegorising the powers that be to draw attention to what’s eating away at the heart of establishment. All we need to do is read between the lines and enjoy the journey.

Whatever you do, don’t miss the opportunity to hook up with Dirk, the homeless robot, who will take you for a walk around the streets of the nearby Meatpacking District, opening up your eyes to the surroundings as you go.

Or why not travel back in time to the Battle of Dybbøl (1864 and all that) or to another continent to the first democratic elections in Africa – two of the other shows worth looking out for.

Besides the shows, there are also presentations. Barnaby Pedersen, the organiser of the festival since its launch in 2004, is this year teaming up with Dr Alissa Mello, the founder of InkfishArt in New York, to arrange a series of presentations delivered by speakers from all over the world. They start at 10am on Saturday at Råhuset, Onkel Dannys Plads 7, Halmtorvet. For the full program, check the website.

CPH puppet festival
May 14-17; various venues, mostly in Cph V; tickets 125kr, some events are free; puppetfestival.dkj

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