Slovenian puppeteers from Austria's Carinthia taking over Maribor
Maribor, 20 September - About 60 puppeteers from Rosental, Jauntal, and Gailtal in the Austrian region of Carinthia will demonstrate their art in Maribor today and on Saturday to mark the 50-anniversary of Slovenian puppeteering in Carinthia.
Ljubljana
A 2014 exhibition on a centenary of puppetry in Slovenia at the National Museum.
Photo: Tamino Petelinšek/STA
File photo
The festival, held as part of the annual Carinthian Cultural Days, is the credit of the Maribor Puppet Theatre, the Slovenian Cultural Association from Klagenfurt, the Club of Carinthian Slovenians in Maribor, and several groups of Slovenian puppeteers from Carinthia.
It will be marked by the theme of resistance or rebellion, reflecting the struggle of the Slovenian community in Carinthia for the survival of the Slovenian language there.
This topic is for instance addressed in the puppet show for adults The Corpse Eater (Mrličožerec/Leichenfresser), which has been dubbed the Carinthian Slovenian version of George Orwell's Animal Farm.
An exhibition showcasing puppets spanning five decades of creative endeavour will also be on display. The opening ceremony will feature a performance by the trio Praprotnice, renowned for their repertoire of songs celebrating resistance, commemoration, and peace.
Another highlight, scheduled this evening at the Puppet Theatre in the framework of the international documentary film festival Dokudoc, will be Sabina Zwitter-Grilc's documentary Resistance Puppetry.
The film highlights the vibrant puppet culture of the Slovenian national community in Austria, deeply tied to its homeland. It explores how today's puppeteers use their art to challenge societal injustices and advocate for more equity.
The organisers have pointed out that young puppeteers from Rosental, Jauntal, and Gailtal have been traditionally connected with Maribor, as puppetry in Austrian Carinthia was significantly influenced by puppet artists, puppeteer educators, and founders of the Summer Puppet Pier festival Breda and Tine Varl.