Puppet show Jaklien Moerman

Two children's books with illustrations by Jaklien Moerman form the basis of a brand-new puppet show by Hans Mortelmans. Jaklien Moerman (illustrations) and Mariette Vanhalewijn (text) captured the zeitgeist in 1970 in two magical children's books with an irresistible flower power style: "Elena the Little Witch" and "The 365 Dresses of Prinses Petronella". The name Jaklien Moerman may mean little to you, but everyone will know her work. After all, her drawings were ubiquitous in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Elena the Little Witch Elena the little witch is very naughty. "If you don't know how to behave like a witch, then you'll just have to live as an ordinary girl for a while," sighs mother. She takes little Elena to Dindelord, where people live. Maar Elena is very afraid of ordinary people… The 365 Dresses of Prinses Petronella Koning Arnold has worries. The treasure chest is virtually empty. And why does his only daughter Petronella need a new dress yet again? "Otherwise she starts crying heartbreakingly," sighs the queen, "and stays in her room in her nightgown all day." What a drama, and just today Prince Jeroen is coming to visit. Hans Mortelmans caught the bug for hand puppet theater a few years ago. Because he is the exact same age as the finest books by Mariette Vanhalewijn (author) and Jaklien Moerman (illustrator), he decided to make a puppet show around these stories, with his own handmade puppets and sets... and his own music, of course. This way he can let everyone taste the unique atmosphere of his childhood years. This puppet show is part of the project "A Suitcase Full of Dreams" by the municipality of Nazareth-De Pinte and Cultuurregio Leie Schelde, which, 15 years after the death of local resident Jaklien, wants to bring her stories back into the spotlight. The traveling exhibition "Under the Rainbow" is an initiative of the Lokaal Bestuur Nazareth-De Pinte and Cultuurregio Leie Schelde, with the support of the Flemish government. Starting January 6, 2027, the exhibition will land in the library of Sint-Martens-Latem.