Ticket sales start on 19 September at 10:00
Welcome to Silkeborg Puppetry Festival
The theme of the festival this year is:
‘Homage to the Art of Puppetry’.
This art form has existed for centuries, although in Silkeborg as a festival only since 1986. The art of puppetry is unique, and we have seen audiences come to Silkeborg in droves during the years to experience everything from traditional puppetry performances to grand experimental shows. Our guests are children and adults, local, national and international.
We are very pleased that international artistic directors and students from many continents come to Silkeborg to enjoy Festival of Wonder. We have a fantastic program this year for our large and faithful audience, with more available tickets for sale than ever before.
We will be even more visible this year, because on Torvet, in the middle of Silkeborg, we have set up the largest theatre building in the history of our festival. Of course, it is the Forman Brothers Theatre from Prague, which once again will enrich us with a brand-new performance. There is seating for 350 people in the building for the show, ‘The Conference of the Birds’.
Experience this show based on an old Persian poem, with puppets in the form of colorful birds, world-class set and lighting design, dancers and puppeteers.
We welcome again Theatre Yael Rasooly, presenting an all-new performance, ‘Edith and Me’, focusing on the lives of Yael Rasooly and Edith Piaf.
The opening performance is with the Spanish theatre Etcétera, returning to Silkeborg this year. They open the festival with ‘Andersen, the Ugly Duckling’, a show with live music and puppets for children and adults alike, focusing on the life of Hans Christian Andersen and his story ‘The Ugly Duckling’- A big wish from the audience has been to see ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ again.
We have asked Etcétera to present the show again in Silkeborg. Both shows by Etcéteras will be on the large stage at Jysk Musikteater.
Many thanks to the sponsors of our festival: A.P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller’s Fund, Lars Larsen’s Jysk Fund, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik’s Fund, Denmark’s State Art Fund, and not least Silkeborg County. Such a large number of events can only be brought to you with help from our faithful corps of volunteers. Also thanks to Gødvad Efterskole and to FGU-Midtjylland.
Dear Audience. We are looking forward to seeing you. There are certainly many wonderful experiences waiting for all of you.
Ulla Dengsøe
Artistic Director
Welcome to Silkeborg From Mayor Helle Gade
You know that special sensation of anticipation which happens every other year in the month of November.
A feeling of Festival of Wonder.
This year the excitement will be felt from November 6-10.
During those 5 days there will be a festive, colorful and above all peaceful invasion in Silkeborg. Puppets and their humans will take over Silkeborg’s scenes, schools and venues with imaginative performances and events.
They will be met by about 11,000 audience members and participants from around the world, puppetry lovers from near and far who follow in their footsteps. They all appreciate that special feeling. Something wonderful is happening in beautiful Silkeborg.
It is time for a happy reunion with the city which is often invaded by puppets. And also time to enjoy everything the city has to offer besides the festival.
Silkeborg can call itself the Puppetry Capital of the North, with the European stamp of quality from EFFE. We are all very proud of this because it is an honor earned. 35 organizers from 4 continents are coming here to find out how to create such a success.
I wish to say thank you so much to our organizers for making this happen. You have once again traveled around the world, made many contacts among people in the world of puppetry and brought top quality performances to our town. As usual there will be the joy of seeing classic puppetry as well as new and interesting shows.
This year is the 26th time that Festival of Wonder is an important part of Silkeborg’s cultural life.
It has been a long and fantastic journey. Families and friends get together again and again for their theatre experiences. Children have become parents and parents have become grandparents, but the special feeling of anticipation for Festival of Wonder stays the same.
That is how it is with good traditions. I am looking forward to it all!
Helle Gade
Mayor
Welcome to Silkeborg from the cultural committee
Dear festival guests
On behalf of Silkeborg County we wish to send a big welcome to Festival of Wonder 2024.
The festival has a strong tradition and is a beacon of light for puppet theatres, national as well as international. The festival is popular among our local population, but also among the international audience and artists from near and far away.
I am proud that Silkeborg shows puppetry to children, to young people and adults, puppetry which year after year fascinates the returning guests and the first-timers.
It is important for Silkeborg to be a strong county for culture and Festival of Wonder is a big part of that identity.
Through the years we have had very good and constructive cooperation with the organizers, and we share the common vision of bringing this unique cultural experience to many people.
This year the city will once again buzz with life and experiences during the days of the festival. Many languages will be heard on the streets and puppets will perform in many places.
I am excited! And I believe you are too! Welcome to Festival of Wonder 2024.
Johan Brødsgaard,
Chairman for Culture-Recreation-and Sports
CONTACTS:
Artistic director and PR manager: Ulla Dengsøe.
Mail: ulla.dengsoe@silkeborg.dk
Technology and logistics: Poul Andreasen. Phone 0045 50571295. Mail: festivalofwonder@silkeborg.dk