WODO Puppetry Summer Theatre

Mülheim an der Ruhr — Cultural City in the Ruhr Area

Mülheim an der Ruhr, a district-free city in the Ruhr area (Düsseldorf administrative district) with around 172,000 inhabitants, cultivates a particularly active theatre and cultural scene. From the Theater an der Ruhr to Theater O-Ton and the Ringlokschuppen Ruhr — the city has several established venues. In summer, an open-air tradition is added: the WODO Summer Theatre on the Ringlokschuppen turntable, a free family event.

WODO Puppetry — Mülheim's Puppet Stage

WODO Puppetry is a puppet theatre company based in Mülheim with a long tradition. What began as a stage for family celebrations and children's birthdays has developed into a professional stage that now performs in theatres, kindergartens, schools, senior facilities, youth centres, and its own venue at the Ringlokschuppen Ruhr. Address: Am Schloß Broich 38, 45479 Mülheim.

Ringlokschuppen Ruhr and the Turntable

The Ringlokschuppen Ruhr is a former railway roundhouse (industrial monument), now an event and theatre venue on the Schloß Broich site. The turntable in front of it is an open-air area — originally a technical rotating device for locomotives, today a circular stage used for open-air events. In summer, it is used for the WODO Summer Theatre — a particularly charming location that combines industrial culture and family programming.

Concept — Free and Accessible

The summer theatre runs "free and outdoors": Free admission, no tickets needed. Families can come without registration, sit on blankets or cushions they bring, and enjoy 45-60 minutes of puppet theatre. Performance times: Saturdays and Tuesdays at 11 AM. The performance also takes place in light rain — blankets and rain protection are recommended.

Programme 2026

The programme includes typical WODO classics for children aged 3 to 10. Confirmed plays for the 2026 summer season:

• Amigos – Friends Forever — a story about friendship
• Pippi Longstocking — the famous Astrid Lindgren story
• Further plays will be announced on wodo.de in May 2026 (programme posters at the Ringlokschuppen)

Each play is typically performed twice — at 11 AM and in some cases at 3 PM.

Behind the Scenes — WODO Philosophy

WODO Puppetry works with classic marionettes and hand puppets — no computer animation, no digital effects. The philosophy: Children should experience the craft of puppetry — how the puppets are manipulated, how voices are spoken, how a story is told with minimal means. This anti-screen approach makes WODO particularly popular with parents who want to shield their children from online stimuli.

Mülheim Summer Holiday Programme

The WODO Summer Theatre is part of the Mülheim Summer Holiday Programme — alongside the Dragon Boat Festival on the Ruhr Arena, the ExtraSchicht in June, the Mülheim Theatre Days, and many other family formats. For families with small children living in or around Mülheim, or visiting relatives, WODO is a reliable weekend activity.