Workshop 1: Remembering and inventing - fictional stories about real events

Workshop to go with “Was das Nashorn sah, als es auf die andere Seite des Zauns schaute” (What the rhinoceros saw when it looked over the fence)

The stage play “What the rhinoceros saw when it looked over the fence” describes events in the Buchenwald concentration camp from the perspective of its zoo animals. The zoo in Buchenwald really existed. The story of a young bear, who becomes a tragic hero in Buchenwald, was created by Jens Raschke. This workshop accompanying this production deals with the relationship between fiction and historical reality, compares various projects on the culture of remembrance of the Nazi era, and provides practical exercises for artistic work with historical themes.

The workshop is open to teachers and interested parties.

Workshop date: Wednesday, 24 September 2025, 4 p.m. 
Visit to the second dress rehearsal, followed by the workshop until 8 p.m.

In addition to the workshop, we recommend our new production ‘What the Rhinoceros Saw When It Looked Over the Fence’ (ages 9 and up). The premiere is on 26 September 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

Workshop 2: Biographical theatre with puppets

Accompanying workshop for “Bewohner” (Residents)

“Residents”, based on the notes of the psychiatrist Christoph Held, offers an insight into the life-stories of a wide variety of people. In the workshop accompanying the production, participants work with real and invented biographies and explore the possibilities of theatrical realisation. Special attention is paid to practical exercises with puppets and objects: How can objects become memories? Can the same puppet embody different people and vice versa? How can biographies be etched into the puppet's body? And what is special about biographical storytelling with this versatile medium?

The workshop is open to teachers and interested parties.

Workshop date: Thursday, 6 November 2025, 4 p.m. 
Visit to the final rehearsal, followed by the workshop until 8 p.m.

In addition to the workshop, we recommend our new production ‘Residents’ (ages 16 and up). 
The premiere is on 7 November 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

Workshop 3: Small puppets and big stories

Accompanying workshop for “Der Drache” (The Dragon)

Glove puppets are familiar from Punch and Judy shows or small stories for children. However, as Frank Alexander Engel and puppet designer Nadine Wottke impressively show in their production of the play “The Dragon”, glove puppets can also be used to tell great stories effectively. Epic material combines with glove puppets in the workshop going with “The Dragon”. In addition to the narrative potential of this puppet form, performance techniques will also be explored.

The workshop is open to teachers and interested parties.

Workshop date: Wednesday, 25 February 2026, 4 p.m. 
Visit to the second dress rehearsal, followed by the workshop until 8 p.m.

In addition to the workshop, we recommend our new production of ‘The Dragon’ (ages 12 and up). The premiere is on 27 February 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

Workshop 4: Inventing moving images

Workshop accompanying “Wolkenbilder” (Cloud Pictures)

In Mike Kenny's play “Cloud Pictures”, the protagonists play ‘cloud guessing’. A game in which the random formations of passing clouds are imagined as concrete images. In the workshop going with the production, the principle of cloud guessing is applied to puppets and objects. The participants develop moving images with various materials and explore the magic of abstraction and meaning.

Workshop date: Wednesday, 15 April 2026, 4 p.m. 
Visit to the second dress rehearsal, followed by the workshop until 8 p.m.

In addition to the workshop, we recommend our new production ‘Cloud Pictures’ (ages 6 and up). The premiere is on 17 April 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

Workshop 5: Ways of flying

Workshop to go with “Zusammen können wir fliegen” (Anything Is Possible)

To hit the roof, floating on cloud nine, having your head in the clouds...
Our language is rich in images in which we leave terra firma. The workshop accompanying the production “Together we can fly” deals with practical questions of puppetry (can all puppets fly, how does a perfect flight animation work, how do you build a stage-effective flying machine?) and also tries to get to the bottom of the poetic core of the longing to fly.

The workshop is open to teachers and interested parties.

Workshop date: Thursday, 4 June 2026, 4 p.m. 
Visit to the second dress rehearsal, followed by the workshop until 8 p.m.
In addition to the workshop, we recommend our new production ‘Anything Is Possible’ (ages 3 and up). The premiere is on 6 June 2026 at 3 p.m.