Festival management and history

The festival week takes place annually with about 50 performances and is visited by an average of 4500 spectators of all age groups. The festival is an event of the city of Wels. The city cooperates closely with the association: IMAGO-Szene Wels - Verein zur Förderung der Figurentheater.

Gerti Tröbinger

^{Artistic director and programming}

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mobile: +43 664 240 59 73

Maria Dürrhammer

^{Theater Education and programming}

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mobile: +43 650 663 03 65

Ruth Humer

^{Theater Education and programming}

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

1991

At the suggestion of the Wels puppeteer and doll maker Prof. Gustav Dubelowski-Gellhorn the first festival takes place under the name "Puppienale". The responsible official in the cultural office of the town of Wels and thus the founder of the festival is Mrs. Trude Kranzl.

1993

The second festival edition took place. Prof. Gustav Dubelowski-Gellhorn, unfortunately, did not experience them anymore.

1994–2008

Trude Kranzl directs and programs the other 15 editions of the festival, now renamed "International Welser Figurentheaterfestival" until her retirement. In this era, the festival grows from the small "Puppienale" to the internationally renowned festival with a program line which is committed to the traditions as well as open space for the avant-garde in puppet play.

2009

Gerti Tröbinger takes over the artistic direction. It essentially adopts the tried and tested program style. She restructures public relations work and mediation and brings the theater pedagogues Maria Dürrhammer and Ruth Humer into the management team.