Cultural and artistic education

After any performance from the programme of the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre, we engage in a discussion about it. We explore how the performance was created and talk about the creators. Although we only see the actors (and/or puppets) on stage, many other creators are involved in the performance—people the audience never sees. Students gain insight into the full scope of theatre-making and experience the performance more deeply.

The Puppet Museum holds the oldest Slovenian puppets. But are they all the same? How do we handle them, name them, and bring them to life? Children, accompanied by Slovenian puppet heroes, learn about the characteristics and differences between various puppetry techniques (marionettes, hand puppets, shadow puppets, etc.). Along the way, they also discover a lot about the history of Slovenian puppetry, famous puppet shows, key creators, and the unique features of Slovenian puppetry in a broader European context. After the tour, they can even try their hand at puppeteering on the museum stages.

After watching any puppet or drama performance from the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre's program, you can visit the museum exhibition at Ljubljana Castle. There are various guided tours of the Puppet Museum to choose from.

One night, mischief-makers broke into Ljubljana Castle and stole several valuables from the Puppet Museum, prompting the castle to issue an announcement:
“We need brave helpers to solve the case and untangle the twisted puppet mystery!” Children, together with puppet heroes like Gašperček, Žogica Marogica, Ostržek, Pavliha, and others, follow puppet clues and search for hints that lead to the stolen puppets. Once found, they bring them to life on the museum’s stages. Through this interactive game, children learn about Slovenian puppet history, various puppetry techniques, and expand their knowledge of the art of puppetry.

Who says puppets are just for kids? Puppetry is a true art form and a serious discipline, with a tradition spanning over a hundred years in Slovenia. Puppetry continuously intertwines with music, literature, painting, sculpture, history … creating truly holistic works of art. Puppets are restored by conservators, supported by natural science knowledge. Students explore puppetry from various angles—through stories of puppet shows, artists, and literary sources, they learn about folk traditions, history, and the art of puppetry itself.

After attending any puppet or drama performance from the programme of the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre, a discussion about the theatrical content follows, along with a guided tour of Ljubljana Castle.

"Hidden Corners" can be organized as a standalone activity or in connection with a performance. Theatres are not just the stage and the auditorium. The theatre also lives behind the scenes, so we will explore all the theatre’s corners that are usually hidden from the audience. We will visit various stages, the puppet workshop, costume and makeup rooms, sound booth, and backstage areas. We will also stop by Martin Krpan, who has been cheerfully greeting passersby from the rooftop for over three decades. The behind-the-scenes look will encourage participants to reflect on the importance of interdisciplinary work, which is crucial for the operation of a theatre. The tours are designed for all age groups and are always tailored to the audience.