Toy Museum exhibition brings stage characters back to audiences

An exhibition at the Theatre Home of Tartu’s Toy Museum has brought both newer and older puppet theatre characters back before audiences, ERR reported. The exhibition is on display in the venue’s basement.

Opened in 2010, the Theatre Home has presented children with well-known stories including Sipsik, Pettson and Findus. Around a dozen original productions have been staged there over the years.

Some of the puppets have faded from public memory, while others remain familiar and eagerly anticipated by children.

“Our very first characters to appear on stage were Sipsik and Anu, so it is especially nice to show them during Sipsik’s anniversary year,” said Marge Pärnits, development manager at the Tartu Toy Museum. “The Little Prince costumes, for example, are very rare in our exhibition. We have never shown costumes at our exhibitions before, so they should be exciting for visitors both young and old.”

The exhibition also features one of the museum staff’s favourites, “Night at the Toy Museum”. In that production, copies of the museum’s dolls came to life and presented nighttime adventures in their home.

“You can see how the museum dolls and museum bears have actually become theatre dolls and theatre bears,” said Triin Vaaro, director of the Tartu Toy Museum. She said the original dolls had fascinating stories, including how they reached the museum, travelled around the world and eventually returned. Unlike ordinary dolls displayed in a cabinet, the puppets were made to move on stage.

Through the exhibition’s introduction to puppet theatre and what happens behind the scenes, the museum also hopes to spark children’s interest in theatre.

“Our performances are created for younger children, so they can have their first theatre experience here and later be ready to watch somewhat tougher plays that reflect life itself,” Vaaro said.