Nukuteatrimuuseum

About the museum

The Nukuteatrimuuseum belongs to the Eesti Noorsooteater and is located in Tallinn’s Old Town next to the theatre. The museum opened on 7 March 2010. The reason for its creation was the need to find a place to keep and display theatre puppets that had finished their stage lives. Hundreds of theatre puppets found a place in display cases; visitors could watch puppet masters at work, and special emphasis was placed on virtual solutions and information boards with touch screens.

The museum has developed continuously: parts of the permanent exhibition have been renewed and new rooms and activities added. Since 2014 the museum has also developed an educational function, to make it a more complete puppet theatre experience for visitors of all ages. Thematic exhibitions have been held, for example on Estonian theatre masks, television puppets and shadow theatre.

The permanent exhibition takes visitors through the 70-year history of Estonian puppet theatre, from the Eesti Vabariiklik Nukuteater (Estonian Republican Puppet Theatre), founded in 1952, to today’s Noorsooteater. It presents archive materials, sketches, sound recordings and playful activities from each decade. Visitors can listen to the life and work of the theatre’s first artistic director, Ferdinand Veike, try out different theatre professions, play on small stages and make theatre puppets. The museum also hosts guided tours, workshops, meetings with actors, school lessons, games and birthday parties.

Highlights

• 70-year history of Estonian puppet theatre in the permanent exhibition
• Theatre puppets in display cases
• Small stages where visitors can play themselves
• Trying out theatre professions and making puppets
• The section “Muuseumi kõige uuem ese” (“The Museum’s Newest Item”), with costumes, puppets and props that came into the collection from the stage

Permanent exhibition

• Nukuteatrimuuseumi püsinäitus – The 70-year history of Estonian puppet theatre, from the Eesti Vabariiklik Nukuteater founded in 1952 to today’s Noorsooteater: archive material, sketches, sound recordings and playful activities from each decade.

Founded

2010

Operated by

SA Eesti Noorsooteater

Director

Iti Niinemets

Admission & discounts

A museum ticket is required for everyone from the age of 3 and is bought at the Eesti Noorsooteater box office. A 10% discount on single and family tickets applies to holders of the Partnerkaart and of the Perekaart of the Eesti Lasterikaste Perede Liit (Estonian Association of Large Families). Free admission on presentation of a card at the box office for members of the Eesti Muuseumiühing (Estonian Museum Association), the Eesti Ajakirjanike Liit (Estonian Journalists’ Union), the Rahvusvaheline Ajakirjanike Föderatsioon (International Federation of Journalists) and ICOM, and for holders of the Tallinn Card and the Muuseumikaart. The advance deposit for a group booking of a museum activity is €30 (included in the package price); it is not refunded if the activity does not take place for reasons attributable to the customer.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Moving around the museum with aids is very difficult: stairs, narrow tunnels and rooms on different levels do not allow full wheelchair access to the museum. The building can be entered through the main entrance (Nunne 4); the cobbled road rising in an arch in front of it may make entry difficult for wheelchair users. The accessible toilet is in the foyer of the Lai 1 theatre building and can be reached with a platform lift. There are no separate disabled parking spaces.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum offers children and families tours, games, workshops, school lessons, activity mornings and birthday parties; on the small stages visitors can play and make puppets themselves. A family ticket costs €22. A pram can be left in the stairwell of the Lai 1 theatre building, between the café and the play corner.

Getting there & parking

The museum is reached through the main entrance of the Eesti Noorsooteater (Nunne 4). The nearest car parks are at Balti jaam and on Rannamäe tee 5.

Amenities & dining

• Café

There is a café in the Lai 1 theatre building.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit