Tips where to go with children to museums and theaters of puppets and toys

Do you know that the largest collection of 4000 wooden toys in Europe can be seen at the castle in Kamenice nad Lipou?

That you can see both Czech and foreign historical and contemporary puppets in several of our museums? And in addition you can try playing it yourself. Here are tips for puppets museums and theatres, which you can visit:

Puppet Museum in Pilsen
House 23 in Pilsen’s main square has been rebuilt into a modern museum containing around 300 puppets. The oldest of these date is from around 1830, the largest is over two metres tall. Except the traditionally conceived exhibition spaces there is a multifunction hall, where it is possible to manhandle puppets, and familiar with various techniques of leading. Interior of the Skupa Café is inspired by the looks of the flat of Mr. and Mrs. Skupa who lived there in 1950s, including reproductions of paintings by Jiri Trnka.

Newly opened Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre in Prague
From April 2010 the Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre has come back into the renovated building in Prague 6. You can find a completely new hall, lift for wheelchairs, sound distribution and lighting of the best parameters there. In all performances you can see the famous puppets Spejbl, Hurvínek, Manicka, Mrs. Katerina, their dog Zeryk and others.

Minor Theatre in Prague
The Minor Theatre tries to perform not only for children, but also to attract adults together with children, or in other words, the whole family. The dramaturgy and performance times have been adjusted to meet this aim. The common denominator of all productions is above all the original and creative and musical element.

Ostrava Puppet Theatre
The Ostrava Puppet Theatre puts on two performances every day for pupils of nurseries and primary schools. Some titles are performed for secondary school students and adults as well.

Museum of Czech puppets and circuses in Prachatice
Experience the world of marionettes, marionette-making, the glamour of the big top and more in Prachatice. Directly in the exhibition there is an opportunity to see the famous production of puppet plays in small historical theatres. The museum is a permanent exhibition of the National Museum in Prague.

Cabinet of the National Puppet Museum in Cesky Krumlov
In the Cabinet of puppets of the National Museum there can be seen 170 puppets (from folk puppeteers to amateur scenes) arranged in thematic complex and linked with South Bohemian history and legends. Above puppets of troops and policemen, visitors can learn something about the Grenadier Guards of Schwarzenberg, above puppets of dwarves about mining in Cesky Krumlov, above puppets of cooks and inn-keepers about pubs in Cesky Krumlov…

Drak Theatre’s Labyrinth and the Institute of Figural Theatre in Hradec Kralove
The labyrinth of Drak Theatre in Hradec Kralove is a well-established brand on the Czech and international theatre scene. It currently offers a glimpse into the non-traditional museum of puppets, or the "Theatre Laboratory", where you can become designer, wardrobe mistress, stage manager or actor for a while.

Museum of Puppet Culture in Chrudim
A cross-section of the history of puppetry in the Czech Republic and a deeper understanding of marionette theatre, and discovering its possibilities.

Regional Museum and Gallery in Jicin
The museum is located in the premises of the Wallenstein Palace in the square and is particularly popular thanks to its interactive exhibition - Museum of the game. You can go through the permanent exhibition of the museum (History and Nature of Jicin Region) with a family guide or with a stick of Albrecht von Wallenstein, that reveals odours, sounds and other secrets of Wallenstein dreams. The Colouring Book – a guide for the youngest children - facilitates finding of relevant objects. In the puppet theatre of the museum, you can play a story of love of noblewoman Eliska Katerina to a blacksmith and the tragic end of Smiricky family based on real events or according to your imagination.