Performers including a ballerina on a tight rope, a Chinese juggler and a trick-cyclist, some of them more than 100 years old, are among the stars of the fifth International Puppet Festival which opened in Dublin yesterday. From Slovakia, Anton Anderle's modestly titled Smallest Circus In The World promises to be one of the festival highlights. His family has a well-known association with puppetry dating from 1856. The mini-circus is followed by a compressed version of Don Juan using rod marionettes.
Established and directed by Eugene Lambert, the annual event based at the Lambert Puppet Theatre in Monkstown, Co Dublin, boasts a diverse line-up of international and native puppetry and brings together puppeteers from far-flung corners of the globe for 10 days of shows, workshops and outdoor events.
From even further afield, the Indian Tolpava Koothu presents a traditional shadow-puppet play for older children and adults. Originally performed in temples and dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, this story of the battle between gods and demons is recreated by Krishnakutty Pulavar and his troupe. Tolpava Koothu will conduct a workshop on the making of shadow puppets. Also for older children, Polish Teatr 3/4 brings its own version of puppetry using only naked human hands to create a unique character called Gianni, Jan, Johan, John, Juan, Ivan, Jean in a series of sketches. Mr Potter, a great success in the 1995 festival, returns by popular demand while younger audiences can look forward to Theatre Laku Pata's show for four- to six-year-olds.
In conjunction with the festival, the shows move out of the Lambert Puppet Theatre to the bandstand on the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire tomorrow, when the programme includes Sligo-based Cillian Rogers who, with his giant back puppets, will mingle with the crowd, and the by-now-legendary Lambert Theatre production of The Three Little Pigs. Mikropodium from Hungary is, as the name suggests, a miniature puppet theatre. Then, Punch and Judy will fight it out courtesy of the Welsh Harlequin Marionette Theatre. From Monday to Thursday, libraries in the Dun Laoghaire area will host free shows including the eco-friendly Tales From A Washing Line. Wanderly Wagon fans will not be disappointed either: Judge and Mr Crow make an appearance to introduce the puppet-panto Babes In The Wood. What with wizards and witches, goodies and baddies, the newly refurbished Lambert Theatre will, of course, resound with shrieks of "he's behind you" for this classic repertoire piece.
Details from 01-2800974