59th International Puppet Theatre Festival opens in Croatia

The 59th International Puppet Theatre Festival (PIF) has opened at the Travno Cultural Center. The festival commenced with a performance titled ‘Le dernier jour de Pierrot’ by the French puppet troupe Deraïdenz from Avignon. The wordless production features original music, handmade puppets, and specialized lighting to tell the story of a lonely man arriving in an unknown village.

Over the course of seven days, the festival will host 13 theaters and artistic groups from nine countries, including Croatia, France, Spain, Uruguay, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Serbia, Romania, and Italy. The program features contemporary puppetry designed for children, youth, and adults.

During the opening, Nevena Tudor Perković of the Ministry of Culture and Media emphasized the importance of art in child development, noting its role in fostering imagination and creativity as a way to steer children away from societal violence.