Puppeteers Chrudim

Loutkářská Chrudim / Puppeteers Chrudim is the oldest unceasingly lasting puppet festival in the world that has been established in Chrudim in 1951.

In the main program it presents a selection of the best productions from the Czech nonprofessional puppet theatres in a given year and there are also many inspiring professional puppet shows with international participation to be seen. In 2024, the festival will celebrate its 73rd anniversary.

Puppetry Chrudim is a top showcase of amateur puppetry in all its types and manifestations. It is a show from which productions are nominated for the basic programme of the Jirásek Hronov Festival. The programme is composed of showcase productions, professional educational seminars, public analysis seminars, and inspirational and complementary programmes with international participation. A show newsletter is published as part of the event, which contains expert reflections on the show productions.

The festival features 120 performances each year. Of these, 45 are competitive performances. The performances are accompanied by discussions, concerts, and art and puppet workshops for the public.

In 18 six-day seminars, 260 students of different ages are educated.