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The Bat for Children
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November 2025  | ||||||
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The Bat for children
Operetta in shortened version by Johann Strauss
Duration: 1 h 15 min
Intermission after 30min
Spoken language: German
Synopsis in English and other languages at the Box office
The composer Johann Strauss - as a marionette - leads through his operetta in a child-friendly way
On his way home from a costume ball, Gabriel von Eisenstein abandones his friend Dr. Falke, still in his bat costume, on a park bench out in the streets. In the morning he has to walk home in that disguise across town. Since this incindent everyone calls him "Doctor Bat".
Now Dr. Falke plans to get back at Eisenstein for this prank. Eisenstein is supposed to go to prison, but is persuaded by his friend to visit Prince Orlovsky's fete first. There he meets an unknown beautiful Hungarian Lady and endows her with his pocket watch. When Eisenstein goes to jail next morning, the surprise is great and Dr. Falke is happy about his successful revenge.
Program and cast
Recording: Herbert von Karajan, 1955, (Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Rita Streich, Luise Martini, Nicolai Gedda, Helmut Krebs, Erich Kunz, Karl Dönch, Rudolf Christ, Erich Majkut, Franz Böheim)
Voice of Johann Strauss: Prof. Gerhard Tötschinger
Marionettenspiel
Christine Hierzer-Riedler, Werner Hierzer, Rudolf Schwarzenberger, Isabell Francisci-Ragger, Claudia Hisberger, Lisa Pippan, Saviz Foroughi, Antonia Petz, Theresa Prem
Puppeteers
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Rita Streich, Luise Martini, Nicolai Gedda, Helmut Krebs, Erich Kunz, Karl Dönch, Rudolf Christ, Erich Majkut, Franz Böheim.
Photo gallery
Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn
Tradition for 250 years
The Marionette Theatre Palace Schonbrunn performs world-famous operas, musicals and fairy tales according to an old tradition. The theatre is located at Palace Schönbrunn. All puppets and stage elements are handmade. The playing technique is officially an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The two founders and artistic directors Christine Hierzer-Riedler and Werner Hierzer look back on over 40 years of international experience in the art of puppet playing.
The marionettes, the costumes and the set designs are produced in cooperation with prominent directors, stage and costume designers in the in-house workshops.
Two well-trained teams make it possible to perform in the theatre in Schönbrunn and at the same time on international tours.
We have been to (selection):
Athens, Brussels, Florence, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Mexico City, Montreal, New York, Paris, Beijing, Rome, Seoul, Shanghai, Stratford and many more.
In order to play a puppet it needs a training of approx. 1-2 years. After that it takes years for perfection and really bring the puppet to life. The whole ensemble of the Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn was trained by Christine Hierzer-Riedler and Werner Hierzer and plays over 300 performances every year.
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