Antwerp is set to host a unique puppet festival in 2026 to shine a spotlight on the historic art of Poesjenellen theatre and reintroduce it to a wider audience.
The city’s existing Poesjenellen theatres are joining forces with ErfgoedLab Antwerpen, the city’s heritage organisation, for this initiative. The festival will be officially announced on Sunday, 31 August, during the Cultuurstraat event in the Sint-Andries district. True to the spirit of Poesjenellen, six puppets from different theatres will symbolically herald the event.
Scheduled to run from 16 to 19 April 2026, the festival is titled ’De Poesjenellen Pakken Uit’ (’The Puppets Steal the Show’) and will be part of the broader OERF puppet theatre festival. OERF is being organised by Theatre Froe Froe and art centre De Studio at various venues across the city. Detailed programme information will be shared at a later date.
To encourage fresh talent, organisers are launching a training initiative called 'De Schaviezenschool'. This free course is open to complete novices keen to get involved in the festival.
Starting 31 August, interested candidates can apply for this six-month programme. Participants will meet one evening a week to develop a brand-new performance, which they will then present at the festival alongside fellow trainees.
The festival aims to pass on the centuries-old craft of Poesjenellen and ensure its enduring appeal for generations to come.
