What makes the Salzburg Marionette Theatre different from other theatres? – On the stage, the marionettes are the protagonists, and the people are behind – or rather, above it all. Because, while down on the stage these finely-crafted marionettes perform plays, fairy-tales, musicals and operas, it's the skilled puppeteers two metres above them who guide all their movements with a special technique, each on 12 strings. The puppeteers, who have mastered this unique method, bring the marionettes to miraculous life.
This special performance technique, has been declared a cultural asset worthy of preservation, as the "most highly developed form of puppet and figure theatre", earning the Salzburg Marionette Theatre a place in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
For the girl Franzi, trees are not a waste of space, but powerful creatures that must be preserved and propagated. Encouraged by her friend Moo and like-minded people, she sets off on a great adventure to the end of the world to make a big contribution – with the help of a very special tree.
For decades, the Salzburg Marionette Theatre has been a cherished guest in Japan. As early as 1958, the ensemble appeared with The Magic Flute at the first Osaka Festival, followed by performances in Tokyo. Further successful tours took place in 1992, 1995, 1998, 2002 and 2004.
After more than twenty years, the theatre has now returned to Japan, presenting itself as a vibrant institution within Salzburg’s cultural scene at the World Exposition EXPO 2025 in Osaka.
The Salzburg Marionette Theatre is going on tour this autumn! In September, the marionettes travelled to Japan to present the musical The Sound of Music at Expo Osaka and in Matsumoto. In November, the production will also be performed in the USA: in Modesto, Casper and Ketchum.