A Day in the World of Puppetry
A wide range of exciting performances and activities awaited the children there. First, the towering stilt walkers of Vaga Banda entertained the audience in the courtyard with a show featuring stilt tricks, football, and a lively train game. This was followed by a performance from the Harlekin Puppet Theatre from Eger, which kept the audience laughing throughout.
Due to the gloomy and rainy weather, the performance The Little Pig and the Wolves was moved indoors to the puppet theatre hall, which quickly filled to capacity with children and their companions. Continuing the puppet theatre program, the organizing Brighella Puppet Section took to the stage in the early afternoon with their production Upside Down, or Foolish Tales.
This year’s BábLeszFeszt was dedicated to Hungarian folk tales. In connection with this theme, participants could visit a memorial exhibition honoring Elek Benedek and, during a book presentation, learn about the editorial and literary work of both his direct and collateral descendants. Later, Orsolya Bardócz and Huszár Botond Benedek also appeared on stage, performing musical adaptations of Elek Benedek’s writings and poems.
The upstairs rooms of the Industrialists’ House were bustling with activity throughout the day, offering medieval-themed fairground skill games for children. Activities included target throwing, catapult games, and numerous other challenges that put the youngsters’ abilities to the test. Volunteers from the Maltese Charity Service in Satu Mare organized additional activities, while the Partium Rural Advisors Network provided fresh grapes and plums as snacks.
The day concluded with a puppet-themed quiz hosted by quizmaster Zsolt Kovács. The actors of the puppet section actively participated in the challenges by reenacting scenes from Brighella productions and helping participants identify cartoon characters based on descriptions.
Children who created drawings during the event were also rewarded. The best puppet theatre-themed artworks received gift packages from members of the puppet section.
The event was made possible with the support of the Satu Mare City Hall and the G. M. Zamfirescu Cultural Center. Event partners included the Maltese Charity Service Satu Mare, the Caritas Organization of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Satu Mare, the Partium Rural Advisors Network, Barta Ati Ltd., and Garden Design Ltd.
