Conference: Puppet Theatre – Public Matter?

Date: March 9, 2022 | The Dragon Theatre and International Institute of Figurative Theatre

Moderator: Barbora Pokorná

Guests: Pavla Dombrovská, Ariel Doron, Tomáš Jarkovský, Tomáš Procházka, Pavel Štourač

What is the current contribution of puppet theatre to the public discussion, and what should or could it be? Within the framework of the Gaudeamus Theatrum International Student Meeting, The Dragon Theatre is organizing its third public conference. While the previous two conferences focused on theatre for specific audience groups (theatre for adolescents and theatre for the youngest viewers), this year’s conference will explore the relationship of contemporary puppet theatre to current and long-term political issues. Does Czech puppet theatre engage in any way in societal or political discourse through its creations? What are the examples of socially engaged puppetry? Does their number and significance reflect a desire for puppetry to hold a position in Czech culture and society? Is puppet theatre a suitable genre for articulating significant social themes at all?