German Forum for Figure Theatre and Puppetry

The German Forum for Figure Theatre and Puppetry (Deutsches Forum für Figurentheater und Puppenspielkunst e.V., abbreviated dfp) is a German voluntary association dedicated to the promotion of puppet, figure and object theatre. It was founded in 1992 as the successor to the German Institute for Puppetry (Deutsches Institut für Puppenspiel), which had been initiated in 1950 by the publisher Fritz Wortelmann and closed in 1991. The organisation is based in Bochum, where it operates from the historic Wasserturm Bochum-Weitmar at Hattinger Straße 467. The dfp serves as a contact point and information exchange for theatres and individual puppeteers, directors, scenographers and other artists, as well as for museums, universities, associations, journalists and other interested parties from around the world. It is active throughout Germany in support of the art of puppetry in all its forms, including classical puppet theatre and acting with figures, puppets or masks, as well as object theatre, material theatre, visual theatre, shadow theatre and animation film. Its most important event is the international FIDENA festival (Figurentheater der Nationen), which has been held in Bochum since 1958. The dfp also organises the competition for the Fritz-Wortelmann-Preis of the City of Bochum for professional newcomers and amateur figure theatre, along with symposia, working meetings, seminars and workshops in Bochum or with cooperation partners elsewhere. The organisation publishes books and, in cooperation with the publisher Theater der Zeit, issues the specialist magazine double – Magazin für Puppen-, Figuren- und Objekttheater. Since 2011 it has run an internet portal for the entire German figure theatre scene. At its Bochum premises it maintains a reference library of specialist books, theatre and university publications and a large number of international and German puppet theatre journals, and it collects and archives recordings of productions, photographs, festival and theatre programmes, reviews and other documents. The documentation centre is accessible by appointment, and an annual scholarship is advertised to enable young scholars or artists to undertake a research stay in Bochum.

The German Forum for Figure Theatre and Puppetry (Deutsches Forum für Figurentheater und Puppenspielkunst e.V., dfp) was founded in 1992 as the successor to the German Institute for Puppetry (Deutsches Institut für Puppenspiel). That predecessor institution had been initiated in 1950 by the publisher Fritz Wortelmann (1902–1976) and was closed in 1991. The dfp thus continues a tradition of institutional support for puppetry in Germany that dates back to the post-war period. From its base in Bochum, the dfp has developed into a national contact point and information exchange for the puppet, figure and object theatre field. Its remit covers classical puppet theatre and acting with figures, puppets or masks, as well as object theatre, material theatre, visual theatre, shadow theatre and animation film. It serves theatres and individual puppeteers, directors, scenographers and other artists, as well as museums, universities, associations, journalists and other interested parties from around the world. A central part of its activity is the international FIDENA festival (Figurentheater der Nationen), which has been held in Bochum since 1958 and is the dfp's most important event. The organisation also runs the competition for the Fritz-Wortelmann-Preis of the City of Bochum, aimed at professional newcomers and amateur figure theatre, and organises symposia, working meetings, seminars and workshops in Bochum or with cooperation partners at other locations. In the publishing field, the dfp produces books and, in cooperation with the publisher Theater der Zeit, issues the specialist magazine double – Magazin für Puppen-, Figuren- und Objekttheater. Since 2011 it has operated an internet portal for the entire German figure theatre scene. The dfp is headquartered in the Wasserturm Bochum-Weitmar at Hattinger Straße 467, a building constructed in 1902–1903. Its upper floors once housed large tanks but were designed to look like windowed living spaces, giving the listed monument the appearance of a villa. There the organisation maintains a reference library with specialist books, theatre and university publications and a large number of international and German puppet theatre journals. It also collects and archives recordings of productions, photographs, festival and theatre programmes, reviews and other documents. The documentation centre is accessible by appointment, and an annual scholarship is advertised to enable young scholars or artists to undertake a research stay in Bochum.

• 2011

  The dfp launches an internet portal for the entire German figure theatre scene.

• 1992

  The German Forum for Figure Theatre and Puppetry is founded as the successor to the German Institute for Puppetry.

• 1991

  The German Institute for Puppetry is closed.

• 1958

  The international FIDENA festival (Figurentheater der Nationen) is first held in Bochum.

• 1950

  The German Institute for Puppetry (Deutsches Institut für Puppenspiel) is initiated by publisher Fritz Wortelmann.

A non-profit voluntary association and information hub for the German and international puppet, figure and object theatre community.

• FIDENA festival

  International figure theatre festival held in Bochum since 1958, the dfp's most important event.

• Fritz-Wortelmann-Preis

  Competition of the City of Bochum for professional newcomers and amateur figure theatre, organised by the dfp.

• double – Magazin für Puppen-, Figuren- und Objekttheater

  Specialist magazine published in cooperation with the publisher Theater der Zeit.

• Reference library and documentation centre

  Housed in the Wasserturm Bochum-Weitmar, with specialist books, journals and archived documents, accessible by appointment.

• Internet portal for German figure theatre

  Online portal operated by the dfp since 2011.

1. 1Official websitefidena.de
2. 2Wikidata entry for German Forum for Figure Theatre and Puppetrywikidata.org
3. 3Deutsches Forum für Figurentheater und Puppenspielkunst – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org