Puppet Theatre Premiere Outside the Subscription Season

On Saturday morning, the Brighella Puppet Section of the Harag György Company will present another new puppet production. The performance is directed by Rita Bartal Kiss, recipient of the Blattner Award and a frequent returning collaborator of the puppet ensemble. This time, she brings with her a Norwegian folktale adapted for puppet theatre by Dóra Gimesi.

“The production is a co-production between the Griff Puppet Theatre of Zalaegerszeg and the Brighella Puppet Section. We believe it is very important to introduce children to the folk tales of the world. The story is based on a Norwegian fairy tale, and it is said that this very tale inspired Andersen when he wrote The Snow Queen. The story speaks about important things: that people are not always who they seem to be, and that it is worth fighting for someone and for our dreams,” says the director.

“The atmosphere of the performance is made especially unique by the music composed by Erzsi Kiss and by the songs performed in a gibberish-like imaginary language. These posed quite a challenge for the actors, but they rose beautifully to the occasion,” she added.

The Norwegian folktale on which the play is based is one of the finest examples of the “animal bridegroom” motif frequently appearing in ancient folk traditions. The heroine must undertake a long journey and face incredible adventures in order to rescue her beloved, the enchanted prince who appears in the form of a polar bear. Along the adventurous path, a living forest, a giant troll, and an ice-hearted princess try to hinder her, while three mysterious women who weave fate and stories help her reach her beloved in the palace at the end of the world, east of the sun and west of the moon.

The performers in the production are Tekla Laczkó, Anikó Nagy, Emese Bandura, and Tibor Bandura. The music was composed by Erzsi Kiss, lighting design is by Csaba Szátvári, and sound engineering by Róbert Fehér. Tamás Nagy assisted the production as assistant director, while Zsolt Liegner serves as stage manager. The performance is recommended for children over the age of four.
Tickets are available at the Northern Theatre box office, through the online ticketing platform Biletmaster.ro, and at the venue.