In a true Grimm Brothers fairy tale, nobody is surprised if an apple tree or an over starts to speak, or if the cooking pot takes offence at something, or if the snowflakes burst out in song. Now performing the well-known story of Mother Hulda with beautiful glove puppets in a classic booth stage will be the artists of Mesebolt, one of the finest puppetry companies in Hungary. An orphan girl who accidentally wanders into the cottage of a mysterious lady learns that happiness will not simply fall into one's lap: we have to work for it. Trust and perseverance will help us through any difficulties.
It is not only the people of Szombathely who get to be dazzled by the performers of the Mesebolt Puppet Theatre: for nearly a quarter of a century, these artists have been travelling around the country and the region with their award-winning productions that preserve tradition while also constantly seeking ways to innovate. It is part of the nature of the genre of puppet theatre that the audience for a given production changes every few years, making it worthwhile to recycle older pieces as well. Written and directed by András Veres, the highly acclaimed Mother Hulda was premièred in Szombathely in 2011 and returned to the stage this year with a new cast of puppeteers. The story of Mother Hulda, like all other classic fairy tales, has two faces to it: one soft and beautiful, the other cold and devastating. After being chased out of the house by her wicked stepmother and her lazy daughter, the despairing orphan girl almost throws herself in the well, but finds herself surrounded by soft clouds. She withstands every trial, and is richly rewarded by Mother Hulda. The everyday magic, however, does not work in the case of the stepmother's heartless, jealous and slothful daughter, whom Mother Hulda takes thoroughly to task.

Age: 4-10 year

Presented by: Müpa Budapest