Pole Poppenspäler Tage Husum
International Puppetry Festival in Husum — Marionettes, Hand Puppets, Shadow Theatre, Tabletop Puppets
About Pole Poppenspäler Tage
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Pole Poppenspäler — Theodor Storm's Character
The festival's name refers to the novella Pole Poppenspäler by Theodor Storm (1874), which is set in Husum. Pole, the travelling puppeteer, is one of the most tender characters in Storm's world — and the namesake for a festival that celebrates puppetry as a serious, multi-layered art form. Husum, Storm's birthplace, was the only conceivable location for the festival founders in 1984.
International Puppetry in All Its Forms
For 40 years, the programme has been consistently international and stylistically open:
- Marionettes — the classic European form of puppetry
- Hand Puppets — from Kasperle to experimental productions
- Shadow Theatre — Wayang from Indonesia, Chinese shadow play
- Tabletop Puppets — the Japanese Bunraku tradition and modern adaptations
- Object Theatre — avant-garde with everyday objects
Venues in Husum's Old Town
The festival takes over the entire old town of Husum: the Schloss vor Husum (castle), the warehouses by the harbour, the Theater-Werkstatt (theatre workshop), St. Marien Church, the children's theatre at Schul-Brücke, and numerous smaller stages in restaurants and courtyards. The town itself becomes a stage during the festival week — performances, workshops, guided tours, and encounters with artists take place all over the old town.
Husum — The Grey Town by the Sea
Husum is a small town of around 23,000 inhabitants on the North Sea coast, in the district of Nordfriesland (Schleswig-Holstein). Theodor Storm affectionately called it 'the grey town by the sea'. In September, the North Sea air cools the town — the right time for a theatre festival that turns the venues in the old town into warming islands of light.
Pole Poppenspäler Tage — edition 2026
42nd Edition — International Breadth
From 18 to 27 September 2026, the 42nd Pole Poppenspäler Tage will once again bring the international puppetry scene to Husum. The programme includes classics of European puppet theatre as well as Asian shadow plays, experimental object theatre productions, and children's programmes.
Programme Focus Areas
As in previous years, the festival is divided into several streams: Adult Programme (sophisticated productions, often experimental), Children's Programme (morning performances for school classes, family performances on weekends), Special Events (workshops, encounters with artists, readings, discussions). The event is organised by the volunteer team of Pole Poppenspäler Tage Husum e.V., which has supported the festival since 1984.
Venues in the Old Town
Performances will take place in numerous venues throughout Husum's old town — from the Schloss vor Husum and the warehouses by the harbour to intimate stages in courtyards and restaurants. The exact programme will be published in August 2026.
Programme Pole Poppenspäler Tage 2026
Festival Week 18–27 September 2026
- Around 60 performances in ten days
- Marionettes, hand puppets, shadow theatre, tabletop puppets, object theatre
- Artists from Europe, Asia, and the Americas
- Adult programme, children's programme, and family performances
- Special events: workshops, encounters with artists, readings
Venues
- Schloss vor Husum — historic halls
- Speicher am Hafen — industrial atmosphere
- Theater-Werkstatt — smaller productions
- St. Marien Church — shadow play performances
- Stages in Restaurants and Courtyards — intimate performances
The detailed programme overview will be published in August 2026 on pole-poppenspaeler.de and in the printed festival booklet.
Highlights Pole Poppenspäler Tage 2026
- 42nd edition since 1984
- Around 60 international productions
- Venues throughout Husum's old town
- Organised entirely by volunteers
- Adult, children's, and family programmes
Prices Pole Poppenspäler Tage 2026
Tickets via pole-poppenspaeler.de, and during the festival week also at the venues. Festival passes and family tickets are available.
Practical information — Pole Poppenspäler Tage
Getting Here
By Train: Husum Hauptbahnhof (main station) with direct ICE connections from Hamburg-Altona (approx. 2 hours) and IC from Berlin. From the station to the old town: approx. 10 minutes on foot. By Car: B5 (Heide–Husum) or A23/B201 from Hamburg. Parking is signposted.
Tickets
Tickets are available via the festival website pole-poppenspaeler.de, and during the festival week also at the venues. Workshops and special events require separate registration. Family tickets and festival passes are available.
Programme
Over 60 performances in ten days — the exact overview will be published in August in the official festival booklet and on the website.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Pole Poppenspäler Tage al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Pole Poppenspäler Tage
Husumer Altstadt, Schloss, Hafen — diverse Spielstätten
Diverse Spielstätten in der Husumer Altstadt, 25813 Husum