Tölz 'puppet player Albert Maly-Motta explains why one “has to listen to the character”

Bad Tölz - The Tölz Marionette Theater is over 100 years old.

Albert Maly-Motta has been with us since the 1990s.

As an experienced puppeteer, he reports which skills are required.

Mr Maly-Motta, in 2018 the Tölzer Marionettentheater celebrated its 110th anniversary.

So it can look back on a very long history.

How long have you been with us?

“My colleague Karl-Heinz Bille and I were contacted by the theater management at the time towards the end of the 1990s.

There had been a dispute in the ensemble at that time, which the volunteer players all went to.

In May 2000 my colleague and I were given sole responsibility by the city council to run the theater. "

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Albert Maly-Motta, directs the Tölzer Marionette Theater.

© Viktoria Gray

What training did you have or do you simply grow into the art of puppet-playing?

“I joined the group as a child because I met a puppeteer couple from East Germany during the summer vacation at Chiemsee.

It is ideal if you have an apprenticeship with which you can do something in the theater, such as a carpenter, locksmith or lighting technician.

I myself had no previous training, but studied theater studies for a few semesters in Munich and then learned in a total of eight different theaters in the USA, Austria and Germany.

Including in the renowned Salzburg Marionette Theater. "

The demanding profession of puppeteer is undoubtedly very diverse.

How do you learn to steer the doll well and what else does it involve?

“Leading marionettes can best be compared to learning to play a musical instrument.

It's quickest when you start young, but you still need a few years and a lot of practice to become good and, above all, safe.

With us, the figures hang on almost three meter long threads, which makes contact with the figure even more difficult.

Basically you have to learn to put yourself in the shoes of the character on stage. "

What do you personally find most fascinating about puppet play?

“What still fascinates me after all these years is how an object hanging on a hook on the stage suddenly comes to life.

The animation of a puppet has the word 'anima' in it, so it animates the figure.

If you can then also build the figures yourself, it is even more interesting how the character emerges or has to be worked out from a drawing or a piece of wood. "

In your opinion, what skills and abilities do you need to really bring the dolls to life?

“A certain acting or comedic talent is a prerequisite.

Then you have to learn the technique of the game like driving a car or playing the violin.

And only then can you really shape a role, i.e. bring character into the character.

All the technology goes into the subconscious.

You have to observe others and learn how they move, and you should also listen to the figure, who is not rigidly connected to the human being, but rather develops a life of its own through the threads. "

You and your colleague Karl-Heinz Bille, as directors of the Tölzer Marionette Theater, are currently looking for volunteer players.

Why is it not so easy to find them and do you fear that the puppet theater will sooner or later become extinct?

“I don't think our profession will die out.

But it just takes fun, reliability and the will to invest time in rehearsals and performances, mostly on weekends as well.

To do this, people who want to start with us have to be able to work together harmoniously with the rest of the team.

On the evening of the open door, interested parties can stop by and we will show them what makes playing with us exciting and varied. "

Puppeteers wanted

On

, at 7.30 pm, the puppet theater will host an

.

The

for the team of volunteer players.

Interested parties are invited to take a

the theater

on this evening

.

The

Albert Maly-Motta and Karl-Heinz Bille show and explain how a marionette is built and moved.

The

is also explained and visitors are allowed to take a figure into their own hands.

on the Tölzer Marionette Theater is available at www.marionetten-toelz.de.