GO AFRICA: South African Puppets & Building Democracy
A talk with Alexej Vancl - Thursday 15 January 2026 · 🕖 19:00–20:00 GMT · Online
British UNIMA is delighted to open our 2026 programme with a compelling international conversation exploring puppetry’s role in democracy, activism, and social change.
About the Talk
Since the end of apartheid, theatre has played a vital social role in South Africa. Different theatrical forms have increasingly merged, engaging in dialogue and creating a unique landscape of performing practices — as rich and diverse as the country itself.
Puppetry, in particular, has become increasingly significant within this context. Puppets accompanied South Africa’s democratic transition in the 1990s and continue to play an important role today. They are widely used in education, address political issues such as feminism, decolonisation, and climate change, and have recently captured global attention — including live-size animal puppets marching towards the Arctic Circle.
Research, Practice & Democracy
During his research in early last year, Alexej Vancl travelled extensively across South Africa — from Cape Town to remote settlements in the Kalahari — meeting and interviewing both prominent and lesser-known artists, scholars, storytellers, and puppetry activists.
His work explores the connections between contemporary theatre practices and indigenous cultural traditions, focusing on the social and political importance of puppetry within democratic processes.
This talk reflects on those encounters and considers how puppetry functions not only as performance, but as a tool for education, dialogue, resistance, and civic participation.
About the Alexej
Alexej Vancl is an actor, puppeteer, director, dramaturg, stage designer, visual artist, cultural politician, interpreter, theatre anthropologist, and teacher. Based in Germany, he works internationally to foster cultural exchange, particularly in rural contexts.
He is currently employed as a dramaturg at the Puppentheater Zwickau and contributes to international cultural collaboration through research, practice, and teaching.
Event Details
📅 Date: Thursday 15 January 2026
🕖 Time: 19:00–20:00 GMT
📍 Location: Online
🎟️ Cost: Free and open to all BrUNIMA or UNIMA members
Thank you for watching.
The recording of the event will be available to watch very soon.
Who Is This Talk For?
This session will be of interest to:
Puppeteers and theatre-makers
Artists engaged in social or political practice
Educators, researchers, and cultural workers
Anyone interested in the intersection of art, democracy, and social change
British UNIMA is a volunteer-led charitable organisation. All funds raised through membership and donations are used solely to maintain our activities, deliver member support, and offer initiatives such as this scholarship. We are grateful for any support that enables us to continue this work.
