Article from the "Narodne novine" journal, 8.12.1951. pg.8
Puppet Theatre in Nis has existed as a professional and cultural institution for 58 years. The theatre has worked hard and patient to master the secrets of the profession and conquer the art of puppetry which had only traces of tradition, not just in this city. Befor June 23rd 1958. when by the Resolution of the Public Board of the Nis Municipality the theatre received a professional status with puppet and live scene, we should remember the year 1951. when the play “Drug za druga”, by Bozana Begovic, directed by Vera Amar initiated the beginning of the marionette scetion of the Pioneer Center “Stanko Paunovic”. It was a self-taught beginning. Actors were enthusiasts, mostly amateurs. They were playing in poor conditions, in a small ground floor and cramped hall in the Fort, later adapted for the artists' studio. Seven years of work, 28 premiere plays, hundreds of second showings in front of thousands of children, their parents, grandmothers and grandfathers. Art of puppetry gained its followers, took the hearts of its viewers and led the to the magic world of fantasy, fairy tale images, poetry, and deep, dreamy, wonderful, quiet inner experience.
Working conditions were relatively satisfying, but only at the beginning of the new working period. Excellent plays, such as “Mali dimnicar”, “Veliki carobnjak”, “Guliver u zemlji patuljaka”, “Ginjol u nevolji”, “Cira III”, “Generalska opera”, “Loptica skocica”, “Kapetan Dzon Piplfoks”, “Peca i vuk”, “Karneval zivotinja”, “Krilata krava”, Dozivljaji macka Tose”, “Zecija skola”, Babaroga”, “Prica o tik-taku” were on the repertoire of the theatre. That was also the time when the theatre started performing abroad, received many awards from meetings and festivals. Acting mostly with marionettes, actors' ensemble improves the skills of animation and expression, completely adjusting them to the demands of the puppetry art and children's affinities. Well known writers, directors, painters, puppet makers, composers from belgrade and other cities in the country, as well as the guest associates from abroad, mostly from Sofia (Bulgaria), were engaged.
When the theatre moved to a new building in Radnicki savet Square (on October 14th 1977. date of the Liberation of Nis Day), it had outstanding working conditions which resulted in enhancements on all levels of artistic expression. Various puppet techniques were applied: marionette, hand puppets, black theatre, shadow theatre, etc. Modern plays were introduced and they implied combination of puppets and actors on the stage, even the completely live plays as a form appropriate for older children's auditorium. High-quality group of actors and animators performed all these difficult tasks. As time went by, the acting ensemble was not enough. During the 1980s young artists joined the troupe. A combination of experience and youth were visible on the scene, and the outcome was – unforgivable performances. New working conditions resulted in reprenstative plays: „Bela bajka“, „Labudovo jezero“, „ Tri praseta“, „Mala Nusicijada“, „Meda Rim-Cim-Ci“, „Mudri Ciga“, „U lazi su kratke noge“, „ Braca Grim“, „Vini Pu“, „Cirkus“, „Carobni klavir“, „Patkica Zutkica“, „Kir Janja“, „Djilja Petre“, „Lepotica i zver“, „Plava ptica“, „Olovka pise srcem“, „Lutkarska Biblija“, „Zdralovo perje“, „Betmen i lutkar“, „Tri praseta“ (again), „Velimir i Bosiljka“. Then again „Lepotica i zver“, „Carobnjak iz Oza“, „Senke u noci“, „Car zabac“, „Carev zatocnik“, „Sveti Sava“, „Mocart“, „Biberce“, „Mala princeza“, etc. Thatre was on tour in the country and abroad, performed on festivals, and received various awards, both in the craft and social fields. In January 2007. theatre received the highest award of the City „January 11th“ Award for exceptional achievements throughout 2006. An outstanding period of performance was crowned with the most important award of the city of Nis. In the meantime (2008) new, young and talented generation of educated puppet actos joined the theatre. Six actors graduated from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Art (Sofia, Bulagaria).
From the book „The Wizard of Nis“, by Slobodan Krstic
The openning of the new building, 1974.