Eckhof-Theater in Gotha.

[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30342] A visiting school class does a little performance on the stage of the Eckhof-Theater in Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha. The Eckhof-Theater, located in the West Tower of Friedenstein and built between 1681 and 1687, is one of the oldest theatres of Germany. It is the only theatre in the world with functioning stage machinery from the 17th century. Friedenstein Castle is an early Baroque palace built in the mid-17th century by Ernst I, Duke of Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

Puppeteer at historical market in Thuringia.

[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30564] During the summer months medieval historical markets are organized at some of the castles that abound in Thuringia. Here we see 'Puppenspieler' (puppeteer) Findelkasper with Rotkäppchen (Little Red Riding Hood). Photo Mick Palarczyk.

Cittern player at historical market in Thuringia.

[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30566] During the summer months medieval historical markets are organized at some of the castles that abound in Thuringia. Here we see minstrel and puppeteer Schabernackrakeel playing his cittern. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[BURMA 25.085] ’Marionettes in Mandalay.’ A display of marionettes in a shop at Mandalay. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[BURMA 25.082] ’Marionettes in Mandalay.’ A display of traditional Burmese marionettes in a shop at Mandalay. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[BURMA 25.079] ’Playing marionettes.’ In the Garden Villa Theatre at Mandalay an old puppet master and his pupil are manipulating their marionettes. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[SWITZER.JURA 6329] 'Fool at the Rhine.' Along the Rhine (Rhein) the Basler Fasnacht (carnival of Basel) lives through some its most beautiful moments when the sun sets behind the Münster church. I followed this fool for half an hour when he walked through the old streets, along the river and over the bridges. He didn't stop piping. As a real Basler he knew what Fasnacht was about: scaring the winter away! Photo Paul Smit.

[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.564] ’Water marionettes.’ Shop with water marionettes in Hanoi. Water puppetry (roi nuoc) is a uniquely Vietnamese form of theatre that draws its plots from legends and historical sources. It is at least as old as the 12th century AD and originated in the wet environments of the Red River valley. In a traditional water puppet theatre the marionettes are manipulated by way of wooden levers that remain concealed under the surface of the water. Photo Mick Palarczyk

[SPAIN.CMANCHA 28546] ’Medieval characters in Sigüenza.’ On the market square of Sigüenza, a small town in Guadalajara province, street performers portray characters from medieval society: a flute-player, a mistrusting nobleman and a lice infested jester. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[SPAIN.CMANCHA 28544] ’Medieval characters in Sigüenza.’ On the market square of Sigüenza, a small town in Guadalajara province, street performers portray characters from medieval society: a flute-player, a mistrusting nobleman and a lice infested jester. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[SPAIN.CMANCHA 28542] ’Medieval musicians in Sigüenza.’ Street performers play medieval music on the market square of Sigüenza, a small town in Guadalajara province which is dominated by an austere medieval castle. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[SPAIN.CMANCHA 28540] ’Medieval musicians in Sigüenza.’ Street performers play medieval music on the market square of Sigüenza, a small town in Guadalajara province which is dominated by an austere medieval castle. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

Eckhof-Theater in Gotha.

[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30343] A visiting school class does a little performance on the stage of the Eckhof-Theater in Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha. The Eckhof-Theater, located in the West Tower of Friedenstein and built between 1681 and 1687, is one of the oldest theatres of Germany. It is the only theatre in the world with functioning stage machinery from the 17th century. Friedenstein Castle is an early Baroque palace built in the mid-17th century by Ernst I, Duke of Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

Bagpiper at historical market in Thuringia.

[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30565] During the summer months medieval historical markets are organized at some of the castles that abound in Thuringia. Here we see the bagpiper from the duo 'Cave Feles'. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

Hurdy-gurdy player at historical market in Thuringia

[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30567] During the summer months medieval historical markets are organized at some of the castles that abound in Thuringia. Here we see minstrel and puppeteer Schabernackrakeel playing his hurdy-gurdy. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[BURMA 25.084] ’Marionettes in Mandalay.’ A display of traditional Burmese marionettes in a shop at Mandalay. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[BURMA 25.080] ’Marionettes in Mandalay.’ A display of traditional Burmese marionettes in a shop at Mandalay. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[BURMA 25.078] ’Singing prince.’ In the Garden Villa Theatre at Mandalay an old puppet master is singing a song for his marionette prince, which is standing in front of the wall and a gate of the Mandalay Fort. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[SWITZER.JURA 6324] 'Lone harlequin.' During the Basler Fasnacht (carnival in Basel) a lone harlequin plays the piccolo at moonlight. Although being a harlequin, he doesn't have the standard harlequin face. He wears a Larve as everybody else, a rude kind of mask, but yet adopted to the harlequin character. Photo Paul Smit.

[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.563] ’Water marionettes.’ Shop with water marionettes in Hanoi. Water puppetry (roi nuoc) is a uniquely Vietnamese form of theatre that draws its plots from legends and historical sources. It is at least as old as the 12th century AD and originated in the wet environments of the Red River valley. In a traditional water puppet theatre the marionettes are manipulated by way of wooden levers that remain concealed under the surface of the water. Photo Mick Palarczyk

[SPAIN.CMANCHA 28545] ’Medieval characters in Sigüenza.’ On the market square of Sigüenza, a small town in Guadalajara province, street performers portray characters from medieval society: a flute-player, a mistrusting nobleman and a lice infested jester. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[SPAIN.CMANCHA 28543] ’Cardinal in Sigüenza.’ On the market square of Sigüenza, a small town in Guadalajara province, a street performer poses as a medieval cardinal wearing a red galero: a large, broad-brimmed hat with 15 tassels on each side. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[SPAIN.CMANCHA 28541] ’Medieval musicians in Sigüenza.’ Street performers play medieval music on the market square of Sigüenza, a small town in Guadalajara province which is dominated by an austere medieval castle. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[RUSSIA.GOLDENRING 26.105] ‘Boyars.’ Filled with suspicion, Boyars (Russian noblemen) are listening to the tsar in front of the walls of the Ipatievsky Monastery at Kostroma. It is a scene from the opera “Boris Godunov”, here performed by the New Opera Theatre of Moscow. The masterpiece by Russian composer Musorgsky treats the life and death of the 17th century tsar Boris Godunov. Photo Mick Palarczyk.