Ulrike Quade creates Die Liebe der kleinen Mouche

On september 8, 2017 ‘Die Liebe der kleinen Mouche’ (Love of seven dolls) opened in the Waidspeicher theatre (Germany). This perfomance was a co-production between Ulrike Quade Compnay en Theater Waidspeicher, a theatre and company specialized in puppet theater. Floriaan Ganzevoort made the set- and lightdesign.

Paul Gallicos’ ‘Love of Seven Dolls’, about a young woman who is enchanted by the magic of a Parisian puppet theater, is one of the most extraordinary love stories in world literature.
The little girl Mouche seeks in vain for happiness in the Parisian world of glitter and glamour. Lonely and full of disappointment, she is about to throw herself into the Seine. Seven dolls from a nearby puppet theater see Mouche and invite her to stay with them. With her innocent and cheerful character, she conquers a place in the hearts of the dolls and the audience. However, the puppet master approaches the girl with contempt and coarseness. Until one day a young acrobat comes by and courts little Mouche.
For this performance Ganzevoort designed a set with three gauzes, placed one behind the other. Cut out of the gauze there are frames that become smaller towards the back. The gauzes are made translucent or opaque with light. The further Mouche gets into the world of the puppetmaster, the further upstage she is.

Press
The performance was very well received by the German press.
From www.fidena.de:

“Ulrike Quade verzückt mit Paul Gallicos Erzählung und wahrer Puppentheater-Liebe.(…) Seltsamer Zauber”

From Thueringer Allgemeine:

“„Die Liebe der kleinen Mouche“ inszeniert Ulrike Quade im Erfurter Waidspeicher als ein Spiel um Existenz und Realitäten “

Credits
Based on the translation by:
Paul Gallico
Concept:
Susanne Koschig and Ulrike Quade
Direction:
Ulrike Quade
Scenography:
Floriaan Ganzevoort and Ulrike Quade
Costumes:
Mila van Daag
Doll Mouche:
Ulrike Langenbein
Hand puppets:
Florian Schmigalle
Lighting design:
Floriaan Ganzevoort
Composition:
Strijbos & Van Rijswijk
Performers:
Kathrin Blüchert, Steffi König, Heinrich Bennke, Paul Günther, Tomas Mielentz