Kipepeo Storytime

Stories from around the world

Puppetry and Storytelling by Nicole Schreyeck

Since earliest times, stories have been told about the world, the human being, about life… Times have changed, but the longing lives on - for stories that nourish, amuse, move, enchant, provoke or inspire...

Puppetry

“I love marionettes… They have a simple grace, a divine awkwardness …

Consider further that they were made for what they do, that their nature conforms to their destiny, and that they are perfect without effort.”

– Anatole France, 1889

  • Das Adlermädchen (Eagle Girl)

    Loosely based on a fairy tale from Switzerland
    Liesl tells a story while she tailors the wedding dress of the new Queen Aquilla.

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  • Wuff and Mieze

    The Birthday
    Friendship is the rope that holds when everything else fails.

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  • Wuff and Mieze

    The letter
    Wuff sends himself letters trying to ensure, that he doesn't forget who he is. But suddenly the mailbox remains empty!

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  • Kipepeo - Little Red Riding Hood

    Little Red Riding Hood

    For families
    A girl gets her mother's red cap and sets off to visit her grandmother – but the wolf lurks in the forest. Fortunately, he can't open doors...

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  • Kipepeo – Fox and Goose

    Fox and Goose

    For families
    Goose goes into town to buy gifts and meets wondrous figures, well, foxes are cunning...

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Storytelling

A long time ago

people sat by their fires in the vastness of an archaic landscape and listened to stories. Stories of past events; of heroes, of gods and all questions of life ... The storytellers were the voice of the past.

Stories also reflect our very personal experiences. They make us acquainted with other countries, customs, views ; they speak of the unknown, of suffering and pain, love and hope. They carry us into the realm of the fantastic and the everyday.

When the voice of the storyteller is heard, it soars into the unbelievable, the daring - into light and darkness of our hearts.

  • Kipepeo Of life and death

    Of Life and Death

    For adults
    Inspired by stories from America and Mexico

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  • Of Pigeons, Frogs and Mayflies

    For families, from age 5
    Inspired by stories from Germany, the Netherlands and Hungary.

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  • Kipepeo – Vom Glück und Unglück

    Happiness and Unhappiness

    For adults
    Inspired by stories from the Netherlands and Romania

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  • Kipepeo – Von märchenhaften Schönheitsfehlern

    Of Beauty and Blemishes

    For families, from age 5
    Inspired by stories from the Netherlands and Italy.

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  • Water Stories

    For families, from 5 years
    Inspired by stories from Malawi, India and Russia.

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  • Colours of Love

    For adults
    Inspired by stories about love from the African-American narrative world.

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  • Kipepeo – Von Mäusen, Affen und Schildkröten

    Of Mice, Monkeys and Turtles

    For families, from age 4
    Inspired by stories from Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.

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Wishing to know more?

Further programs on request

Let's find further wishes and options for your unique experience around puppetry shows and storytelling theater for young and old. I look forward to your contact request!

Voices from the audience

  • "The puppet show was masterful and a truly magical experience, with lovingly crafted puppets made from natural materials. The synchronization of the movements with the performer's voice was very impressive."

    Halima Zaari, audience

  • "I was particularly touched by the saying: Friendship is the rope that holds when all ropes break! And I think the lovingly crafted dolls and decorative objects are fantastic."

    Manuela Mazarin, audience

  • "You have to love Wuff and Mieze, their fine, typical, differentiated movements, the dialog, you feel connected to them through the situations copied from life. - A relationship is always a challenge and real love at the same time! It's a real pleasure to watch the puppets, the artist who 'breathes life' into the figures and to be enchanted by the world of stories..."

    Tatjana Funk, audience

  • "I found the play fascinating, enchanting and very successful in its realization. The play captivated me even in the last row. Involving the audience during the reconstruction was very well done. The text and also the action with animals and puppets is a joy and an eavesdropping that I wished to never end."

    Karola Konang, audiece

  • "What still lingers in my mind are keywords such as: Dance, joy and especially the appreciation of a friendship, nurturing it and being there for each other."

    Sonja Pinter, audience

  • "A puppeteer on a journey, with Wuff and Mieze in her luggage, who experience all kinds of things and love each other. A play for young and old. A stage set designed with great attention to detail. A play with lots of situational comedy. A wonderful, invigorating, humorous and relaxing finale (...)"

    Veronika Wagner, audience

  • "I was lucky enough to see one of your puppet shows last year and I still remember very well how wonderfully and uniquely you performed it. You have a very special way of touching people. So much sensitivity, truthfulness, diversity and joy, which you bring to us in a very special way, is simply admirable!!!!"

    Rosa Gatto Rotondo, audience

  • "I thought the piece was very beautiful, but it probably doesn't matter which piece you play if you play it with such dedication. You're already incredibly passionate. Nice theme, creative realization and great elements with the involvement of the audience, the music and the traveling Wuff. The idea with the suitcase is totally cute and makes the whole thing even more charming. (...)"

    Christian Weimert, Zuschauer

  • "I was very captivated and it still resonated, because it was the most beautiful and fascinating (...) When you do something with joy and your heart, you exude it and that's what you do. Many, many thanks for the great stage play. And best wishes to Wuff and Mieze."

    Karola Konang, audience

The Storyteller

Nicole Schreyeck

Nicole Schreyeck

Nicole Schreyeck studied acting at the "Reduta Berlin, Schauspielschule für Theatre and Film (now the Berlin School of Acting) with Teresa Nawrot, a close collaborator and actress of Jerzy Grotowski.

In addition to her work as a pedagogue, she had engagements at the Theater Facit and at the Kleine Waldbühne in Berlin, among others. In Kenya, she worked at the Nairobi Theatre and told stories for Sigana Storytelling and Zamaleo Act, which fueled her love of storytelling. She founded and directed the Kipepeo Storytelling Theater from 1997 to 2011. In the years that followed, Nicole told stories as an educator in kindergartens, schools, youth centers, etc. and taught storytelling and puppetry in Mannheim and Taiwan. After a two-year training in Switzerland in puppetry with Margrit Gysin, she reopened the Kipepeo theater and resumed the thread of storytelling and puppetry.

“Kipepeo ruka Anani tulete maridadi…
Butterfly, fly, fly and bring the beauty...”

The Kipepeo Theater was founded in Nairobi from 1997 to 2002 as a storytelling theatre. Until 2002, stories were told in the East-African tradition with music, dance and acting or quietly and intimately, so that inner images can emerge and the audience can enjoy the world of stories. In 1998, Kipepeo Theatre won the Mbalamwezi Prize for the best theatre production of the year for Colours of Love. From 2002 to 2011, storytelling continued in Germany in kindergardens or in monthly „Story Sundays“ at the Theater im Viertel, Saarbrücken. Performances were held at storytelling events, school tours, holiday programs and other venues. The love of storytelling, the wisdom of stories and the art form of puppetry nurtured children and adults alike.

Contact Kipepeo

Kipepeo Storytime
by Nicole Schreyeck