FIDENA — Figurentheater der Nationen

FIDENA — Figurentheater der Nationen since 1958

From May 13 to 21, 2026, FIDENA — Figurentheater der Nationen will take place in the Ruhr area — one of the world's oldest and most renowned festivals for contemporary puppet theatre. Founded in 1958 in Bochum, FIDENA has established itself over almost seven decades as a central platform for the international avant-garde of puppet, marionette, shadow, and object theatre art. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it's no longer just about classic puppet shows — today, puppet theatre means experimental, often highly political stage art, where objects, materials, 3D printers, ice, light, sound, and human performers merge into a unique aesthetic.

First Edition Under New Co-Directorship

The 2026 edition marks an artistic turning point: Helene Ewert and Christofer Schmidt are taking over the festival direction for the first time. Both, coming from the independent theatre and performance scene themselves, continue the FIDENA tradition while sharpening its profile: more performative, more political, less genre-conformist. The 2026 program reflects this — 28 productions from 16 countries, including one world premiere and several German premieres.

Venues Across the Ruhr Area

FIDENA is not a one-city festival. The productions are spread across six cities:

• Bochum — Festival heart with the Schauspielhaus, Kammerspiele, and Zeche Zollverein as main venues
• Herne — Künstler-Zeche Unser Fritz and Flottmann-Hallen
• Essen — UNESCO World Heritage Site Zeche Zollverein and other independent venues
• Recklinghausen
• Gelsenkirchen
• Wuppertal

This makes FIDENA both a regional festival and a manifestation of the Ruhr area's identity as a cohesive cultural space.

Program Highlights 2026

„The Waves" — Ice Marionettes by Théâtre de l'Entrouvert (France)

One of the most spectacular productions of 2026: The French company Théâtre de l'Entrouvert works with life-sized ice marionettes that visibly melt during the performance. Inspired by Virginia Woolf's novel "The Waves." The performance thus becomes a memento of transience, loss, and time — and a visually extraordinary stage experience.

TRANSPORT Series — 3D Printing and Global Supply Chains

Six productions under the common umbrella "TRANSPORT" address global supply chains: Using 3D-printed miniatures, artists from several countries tell stories of container ships, just-in-time logistics, working conditions in emerging economies, and the climate impact of global trade. A politically aware, materially innovative series.

„Every Second of Downtime" — World Premiere by Ant Hampton (Great Britain)

In this world premiere, British artist Ant Hampton combines a photobook and sound to create a hybrid performance. The audience experiences the show as a mix of visual and auditory work — a format that pushes the boundaries of classic puppet theatre definitions.

„Die Welt ist ein Würstelstand" — Schubert Theater Vienna

Vienna's Schubert Theater brings a musical with dark humor to Bochum — set in Vienna, using the Würstelstand (sausage stand) as a metaphor for the world. Classic puppet theatre, but with contemporary relevance.

Bochum and the Ruhr Area as Cultural Hubs

FIDENA is deeply rooted in the Ruhr area and simultaneously expresses the region's transformation: once a stronghold of hard coal mining, now one of Europe's densest cultural regions with the Schauspielhaus Bochum (one of Germany's most important spoken word theatres), the Ruhrtriennale, Zeche Zollverein (UNESCO World Heritage), the Folkwang Museum Essen, the Movement Festival in Wuppertal, and much more. The fact that FIDENA is performed across six cities is not a coincidence, but part of the program — the Ruhr area as a cohesive, polycentric cultural space.

Who is FIDENA for?

• Theatre enthusiasts who love contemporary, experimental stage art
• Performance lovers who move between genres
• Politically interested cultural visitors — many FIDENA productions deal with themes such as climate, migration, labor, and identity
• Material aesthetics aficionados — puppet theatre is one of the most material-rich genres (fabric, wood, metal, ice, 3D printing, light)
• Industry professionals from puppetry, theatre, and performance studies

Children's programs are offered sporadically, but FIDENA is primarily an adult festival with a sophisticated, often melancholic and political aesthetic.