Klaipėda City Municipality
Klaipėda
professional puppet and object theatre for babies, children, young people, and adults
Turgaus g. 9, Klaipėda
55.70760, 21.13350
45-90 minutes for a performance; longer with an education programme
according to the repertoire; weekend performances are usually easiest for families
Klaipėda Puppet Theatre public institution, Klaipėda University Puppet Theatre KU-KŪ, KU-KŪ
Professional puppet theatre in the old town
Klaipėda Puppet Theatre operates on Turgaus Street in Klaipėda Old Town. It is a small but distinctive cultural space where puppets, objects, and visual-theatre language are used not only for children, but also for babies, young people, and adults.
The theatre's history page highlights its setting in a historic half-timbered building with an inner courtyard. The hall is intimate: official information mentions a 70-seat auditorium, so performances often feel close, chamber-like, and direct.
From KU-KŪ to a professional theatre
The theatre's beginnings are linked with the Department of Directing at Klaipėda University's Faculty of Arts in 1991. In 1992 the troupe took the name Klaipėda University Puppet Theatre KU-KŪ. Its early development involved Jūratė Januškevičiūtė, Linas Zubė, Liuda Vismantaitė, Salomėja Burneikaitė, and other puppeteers.
During the KU-KŪ period, the troupe created 17 performances and took part in 21 puppet-theatre festivals. In 2004 a new generation of puppeteers was introduced to Klaipėda, the theatre separated from the university, and in 2006 Lithuania's Ministry of Culture granted it professional-theatre status.
What you can see here
The repertoire covers different age groups, from performances for babies to object-theatre and visual-theatre forms for older children or adults. That matters because Klaipėda Puppet Theatre is not only a stage for traditional glove-puppet shows.
Besides performances, the theatre organises education programmes, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, and meetings. Its official history also highlights the international festival Karakumų Asilėlis, held every two years since 1997.
Tickets and practical details
At the time of research, the official ticket page stated that performance tickets are sold through bilietai.lt, with prices starting from 5 EUR and depending on the specific performance. It also noted that tickets become one euro more expensive on the day of the performance, so check the current repertoire and ticket page before planning around a price.
The official theatre address is Turgaus g. 9, Klaipėda. If visiting with small children, check the age recommendation, performance length, and whether a child under 2 needs a ticket, because baby performances can have separate rules.
Fitting it into a Klaipėda route
The theatre works best as part of a family or cultural day in central Klaipėda. Before a performance, walk through the old town, Theatre Square, the Danė quays, or the Clock Museum. Afterward, continue toward the castle site and the History Museum of Lithuania Minor.
Because the hall is small and the repertoire changes by season, turning up spontaneously is not always the best plan. Klaipėda Puppet Theatre reveals itself through a specific performance, not just as a building to tick off on a map.
