Hänneschen-Theater
Cologne's storied rod-puppet theatre on the Eisenmarkt – home of Tünnes and Schäl and Germany's largest puppet theatre.
The Hänneschen Theatre – officially the Puppet Plays of the City of Cologne – is a traditional rod-puppet theatre on the Eisenmarkt in the old town. With around 25 staff, including 14 puppeteers, it is the largest puppet theatre in Germany by workforce.
At a glance
- Founded: 1802 by Johann Christoph Winters
- Since 1926: municipally run, on the Eisenmarkt since 1938
- Famous characters: Hänneschen, Bärbelchen, Tünnes and Schäl
- Language: mostly Kölsch dialect
Cologne characters on the rod-puppet stage
The figures embody typical Cologne characters and have been part of carnival since the first Rose Monday parade in 1823. A highlight is the annual Puppensitzung, a fond parody of the carnival sessions in which puppet versions of current Cologne personalities also appear. Performances are staged for children and adults alike.
Source: Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-06-23
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Sources & links
- 🌐 Official website
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-06-23)
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-06-23, rev 264169198)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-23
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