MARIOFA Puppet Festival 2026 in Funchal
MARIOFA (Puppet and Other Animated Forms Festival) is back to Funchal. For four days, puppet and animated theatre takes over museums, gardens, a municipal theatre and a local café.
Shows by Portuguese and international companies include shadow theatre, a Chinese puppet circus, a cardboard-themed carnival and a night-time performance at Quinta das Cruzes. There are also two workshops.
Programme
Thursday, 8 October
10:00 — Papa Mundos - Shadow Theatre and Other Non-Existences (Vum Teatro), MUDAS - Museum of Contemporary Art
Time not stated — Festival! Chinese Puppet Circus (Mark Whitaker), MUDAS - Museum of Contemporary Art
11:00 — A Viagem do Martim (DRE/DSEA Animation Team), MUDAS - Museum of Contemporary Art
14:30 — Papa Mundos - Shadow Theatre and Other Non-Existences (Vum Teatro), MUDAS - Museum of Contemporary Art
15:15 — Robi - The Robot Who Learned to Be a Friend (Natércia Teixeira and Carina Teixeira), venue not stated
16:00 — Workshop "Introduction to Chinese Glove Puppet Theatre" (Mark Whitaker), Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre
18:30 — Bichos (Clive Chandler, Alison Duddle and Nuvem Aquarela), Municipal Garden
21:00 — Silent Bea(s)ts (Clive Chandler), Largo do Socorro - Barreirinha Bar Café
Friday, 9 October
10:30 — Festival! Chinese Puppet Circus (Mark Whitaker), Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre
11:00 and 15:00 — Cardboard Carnival (Lempen Theatre), Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre
15:45 — Agostinho e Felicidade (Cia Boca de Cão), Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre
19:00 — Quinta das Luzes (Alison Duddle, Nuvem Aquarela and guests), Quinta das Cruzes Museum
Saturday, 10 October
10:00 — Agostinho e Felicidade (Cia Boca de Cão), Mercado dos Lavradores
11:00 — Teatro Dom Roberto (Vum Teatro), Municipal Garden of Funchal
11:30 — Festival! Chinese Puppet Circus (Mark Whitaker), Municipal Garden of Funchal
11:45 — Robi - The Robot Who Learned to Be a Friend (Natércia Teixeira and Carina Teixeira), Municipal Garden Auditorium
15:30 — Cardboard Carnival (Lempen Theatre), Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre
16:15 — Bichos (Clive Chandler, Alison Duddle and Nuvem Aquarela), Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre
19:00 — Quinta das Luzes (Alison Duddle, Nuvem Aquarela and guests), Quinta das Cruzes Museum
Sunday, 11 October
10:00 — Workshop "Robertins", Echoo - Nature Fest (Chão das Feiteiras)
11:00 — Bichos + Levadeiro, Echoo - Nature Fest (Chão das Feiteiras)
Workshops require prior registration at aquarela.fantoches@gmail.com.