All you need!

I know it's been months... But honestly the blogger wasn't really my best friend for a while and I was busy with many other amazing things (like festivals and drama and taking pictures of our cats and posting them on instagram... oh, and did I mention the flu?)

"Es ist so weit" and I am heading to Vienna, the heart of Europe, for a small tour again!! Well, not so small, 8 shows in one week, I think it's not so bad...

As I am already few days obsessed with packing and not forgetting anything for the trip, I decided to introduce you to the mystery of one traveling puppeteer. So here's just a fragment of all you need if you take your puppets (and yourself) abroad.

Absolutely the most important is a suitcase. Never leave your suitcase at home! It's the item which defines a puppeteer. Right? 

You never know, when you'll need it. It totally solves many kinds of situations. It makes people wonder, it confuses, it makes children laugh and scream. (It manipulates them a little bit too.) And of course it makes bubbles!

How to make the 13 hours of driving a bit more bearable? Yes, I've got some music. And a radio. But let's be honest here. The german radio stations aren't really a pleasure to listen (and I am going to drive around 700 km through Germany). But this time I am having a great evil plan!! I will listen to audio books!! 

Did you know it was snowing in Munich already? I chose Andersen's fairytale about the Snow Queen, here's the nostalgic slovak version. (Isn't it a bit disturbing, that I still don't have the winter tires?)

When I cross the boarder with Austria, and I will be able to tune FM4, I'll know I am close. And than they say: You're at home, baby. (It's their slogan. It's not like they would really tell me, that I am at home.) 

But will it still feel like home? Let's see. Grüß Gott!

The Skeleton Cabaret

If you were lucky and on time and if you were brave enough, you could enter the dark tent of the French Family Tuvora. In the intimate atmosphere just for one spectator, you could enjoy a real underground Can - Can far beyond the borders of the world of the living played by skeletons of mice, rats and other creatures... Pure morbid joy! :)

For more information, especially if yo speak french visit the website www.zoprod.com

good meat

It's not the first time I saw cute fluffy creatures cut in pieces. But in a puppet theatre I can handle it. (I secretly enjoy it :) Two butchers and one foxy narrator showed us how the things work in their "La Boucherie Renard" (by these guys). Bunnies getting electric chair, and chickens being catapulted in the air and a lot of steaming and burning machinery. Lovely show. And children were helping. Catching the flying parts of chickens or they acctually made the electric chair work. They also could pick the bunny which was finnaly skinned. Belgian kids are tough ;)

Later, like I wasn't lucky enough to see the butchers I managed to catch the end of the one man show - "Richard, le polichineur d'ecritoire" by Compagnie des chemnis de terre. Except that it was performed with real meat, the main character also used a meaty mask on his face. Magical! (and followed by loud reactions of the audience:) 

But I really need to learn some more french. It would help me to enjoy a little more. Otherwise it was all very formidable! :)

ONE YEAR!

So I totally missed the birthday of this blog!

Happy birthday Lemons and happy birthday Puppets! We were doing quite good. We've got people from many different countries checking out the blog regularly! Thank you all for that!! And we've also got our real own instagram profile! :) What an improvement! But most importantly we have the courage and motivation to go on and bring up some more from the strange world of arts, puppets, and any connected (or disconnected) inspirations!!

A year ago this blog begun with the biiiiiig event in Ghent, the Gentse Feesten Festival. And tomorrow it will all start again and the town will turn into a pulsing festival area. Many people left for holidays because of that, but many others are staying, or coming to town to celebrate in so many ways for ten days.

I'm the one staying. Naturally. And I am already putting together several programs and I am trying to figure out how to see enough shows/concerts and not miss anything important. (Which is really impossible in the amount of gigs!)

I picked three theatre shows which I'd like to recommend you, guys. For those in town, who can go see it during the next week, or for some who can keep it in mind and see these shows on another festivals. These shows tour Europe all year long ;)

1. My personal 'Numero Uno' is the Studio Orka and their Duikvlucht (cooperation with theater Antigone, Antwerpen). This show - Duikvlucht (google translates it as "nosedive") was last summer on the program of Zomer van Antwerpen (another Belgian festival). It was sold out for two months immediately. So I have my tickets already, no risking. Three other shows by Studio Orka, which I've seen before, were a splendid experience, so I guess this one will not be a disappointment. 

(The shows start tonight 19 - 22 july + 25 - 28 july at 15 and 19 o'clock but please find out more here.)

Check the trailer here. It also has English subtitles!

2. If you like new circus, in Belgium you are on the right place. The circus scene is blossoming over here. There will be a lot to see in the Baudelopark in Ghent, where the Jeugdcircus festival takes place (festival of young circus and the shows are for free). Via the Mira Miro festival you'll find circus on a many other locations too. I picked a show I had the pleasure to see once upon a time in Slovakia on the Cirkul'art festival - PakiPaya's show Shake Shake Shake.

Ladies, you don't wanna miss this handsome gentleman ;) 

27 july 15:30 and 19:30

28 july 17:30 and 21:00

source

3. Let's not forget about the puppets! As many years before also this year the Puppetbuskers festival goes on. Still at their usual location in the beautiful Patershol on the Trommelstraat. It is probably for the last time that the festival will take it's place there, so you rather won't miss it. The program includes a lot of artists from Belgium, France, Great Britain, Spain and "young talents" from Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Russia etc... Most of the companies are new to me, but there will be the possibility to see the winner of last year "Young talent" category - Cie La Mandale and their Citizen P. I wrote about them here. 
You can see the show on 24 july in the shopping center Zuid 15:00, 26 july EFTC, Trommelstraat, 16:00.

Enjoy the shows, music, dance, party! Enjoy the beautiful weather! And all of you who can't be here, consider to visit Ghent next year around this time, it's surely worth it ;) 

See you around! ;)

Puppets in music

I've got three very favourite music videos with puppets.
This one: 

This heartbreaking one:

And there is one more but I couldn't find it anymore. I forgot the name of the band and of the song. (And googling "singing men with a sock puppet" didn't bring any good results.)

But while searching I found this one: (please click the link) :)

                                                                              LINK

Made by these very nice Slovak animators duo Ove Pictures from Slovakia. 


Have a good watch and enjoy the music too!!