This year’s moderator, Mareike Gaubitz, has been a research associate and Head of the Documentation and Research Center at Fidena – the German Forum for Figure Theatre and Puppetry Arts based in Bochum. She also holds a teaching position at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, with a focus on methodology, theory, new discourses, and the history of figure theatre. As an independent project coordinator and moderator, she contributes to the development of symposia, conferences, discussion forums, and research formats.

Guest speaker Michaela Bartońová was born in Prague,

Guest speaker Stephan Wunsch studied philosophy and literary studies before founding the independent stage Theater Rosenfisch, while at the same time developing his skills in puppet and figure design. His musical abilities also flow into his productions. He advocates for figure theatre both as an editor of the professional journal Das andere Theater and as a speaker at various events.

Since 2025, he has represented the VDP (Verband Deutscher Puppentheater e.V. / Association of German Puppet Theatre) at the general assembly of the Fonds performing arts (Berlin).

Guest speakers Sylvia Deinert and Tine Krieg founded the Fundus-Theater as an independent, female-led theatre.

Since 1980, FUNDUS THEATER has transported its audience into a paradise of signs, where image and language, gesture and material, dance figure and sound stand on equal footing. In 2003, this tradition gave rise to the Research Theatre, a scenic laboratory entirely dedicated to exploring the intersections of childhood, art, and science.

From the very beginning, FUNDUS THEATER has been innovative: in 1984, it presented the first preventive play addressing the topic of sexual abuse. The picture book based on the play Das Familienalbum was translated multiple times and published in countries including China and Korea.

In 2016, FUNDUS THEATER received the Federal Theatre Award. In 2023, it was honored with the Perspective Prize of the States – the German Theatre Award DER FAUST.

Guest speaker Robert Pfaller, Professor of Philosophy and Cultural Theory

at the University of Art and Industrial Design in Linz, Austria. Founding member of the Viennese psychoanalytic research group “stuzzicadenti”. 2007 he was awarded “The Missing Link” price for connecting psychoanalysis with other scientific disciplines, by Psychoanalytisches Seminar Zurich – for the German edition of his book „The Pleasure Principle in Culture: Illusions Without Owners“ („Die Illusionen der anderen. Ueber das Lustprinzip in der Kultur. Frankfurt/Main: Suhrkamp, 2002).

Teacher: Fabrizio Montecchi, Italy

Workshop language: English, Italian

Teacher: Kathy Foley, USA

Workshop language: Englisch

Teacher: Tristan Vogt, Germany

Workshop language: German

In this workshop, we will explore the magical world of objects through simple play exercises: What does an object “feel,” what is its problem, what does it dream of? How can we “animate” objects in theatre and let small stories emerge? By attempting to take the position and perspective of things, we put ourselves in a position to discover the world we think we know as something unfamiliar. (Hansjürgen Bulkowski, Liebe zur Sache)

Tristan Vogt is one of the representatives of a theatre for children that achieves great artistry with “small” means. His precise minimalism, as seen in works such as Was Sachen so machen or Daheim in der Welt, moves audiences in no small part through the care and attention each of his gestures brings to the simple objects in his unpretentious scenarios.

His theatre is a counterpoint to any showy aesthetics or dramatic overwhelm—yet it leaves a profound impression precisely in this way, making the inconspicuous shine, both aesthetically and in terms of content.

Teacher: Jürgen Maaßen, Germany

Workshop language: German

Teacher: Svein Gundersen, Norway

Workshop language: English

In this workshop, we work with simple, large paper puppets (approx. 1.5 m). Each puppet is operated by three puppeteers—a kind of Bunraku style. Svein learned to work with these puppets at Handspring Puppet Theatre and has applied this approach in training puppeteers and theatre students. The work offers excellent opportunities to practice collaboration, focus, and improvisation.

Svein Gunderson has worked for many years as a director and playwright and has also been active as an actor and set designer. He has been involved with UNIMA both in UNIMA Norway and UNIMA International. Svein Gundersen is the deputy artistic director of Kulturproduksjoner, a member of the Norwegian Writers’ Association, and Professor Emeritus at Oslo Metropolitan University.