About the Performance
The literary work Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Austrian writer Felix Salten is a moving novel about the profound connection between humans and the forest. It directly reveals the problematic relationship that arises from the coexistence of humans and nature. Upon its publication in Austria in 1923, the novel had already surpassed the boundaries of children’s literature of the time. Through its symbolic tale of a young deer’s coming of age, it brought to public attention the issues of growing up, understanding the world, and the harsh pain of loss—elements that also marked the story in 1942, when it was adapted into a feature-length animated film by Walt Disney, securing its place among the world’s most famous children’s classics. A local story that initially reached only the German-speaking regions of Central Europe became one of the best-known tales for children and adults alike. Although some of its sharp edges were softened in the animated adaptation, it nevertheless proved to be a timeless story that, in various forms, can reach young audiences and help them navigate the transition into adult life.
At the center of the magical forest stands the young deer Bambi, who, as a typical child of nature, discovers its principles. This is a natural world already disrupted by humans, who with their own rules of life begin to influence the lives of forest animals. The forest is home to a variety of species—game, rodents, nocturnal and diurnal birds—and through the process of personifying animal characters with elements of fable, they coexist in the shadow of constant danger from outside. He, the unnamed hunter, represents the force of civilization intruding into the forest, disturbing natural life cycles and asserting human superiority over animals through the use of weapons. Although the animals are anthropomorphized, they do not function as caricatures of humans; rather, they live as beings with their own sets of rules within the universal fate of existence—an idealized environment in which an external threat constantly looms, one they cannot control or fully escape. In their world, safety and refuge do not exist, making the struggle for survival an essential part of their growth and existence. They must learn to endure, help each other, cooperate, and build a community in which they can find at least a small measure of shelter and security. This becomes even more difficult with human interference, which violently disrupts the natural cycles in which every life event has its place and purpose, forcing a new path upon the world. Although the events are violent, traumatic, and tragic, the animals’ response is courageous and unyielding.
Today’s world—marked by ecological crises, climate change, and a growing disconnection from nature—needs artistic and literary depictions of such events to remind us of the fragility of life and the responsibility humans bear toward the environment and one another. Representations of these issues must be made accessible to new generations through different artistic techniques. It is also important to note the pacifist undertone woven into the story. Felix Salten used it to reflect the rising threat of Nazism and the violence that later unfolded in the Second World War. Considering the many conflicts that still exist around the world today, the call for peace and respectful coexistence between cultures, nations, and groups is essential—even for the youngest generations, who may one day, with new or inherited knowledge, shape a society grounded in respect when they become adults and step into the world as active and political beings.
In the theatre performance Bambi, dramatized from the literary original by dramaturg and theatre creator Brina Jenček, we enter this complex world of danger through the use of theatrical puppets and the musical atmosphere created by the versatile artist Žigan Krajnčan. Through puppetry, younger audiences can safely engage with emotional experiences and observe complex situations from a comfortable distance. The puppet becomes a living mediator between the child's imagination and theatrical reality. In the performance, we see a variety of puppets made from natural materials—wood, cotton, wool, and paper. These materials carry traces of nature, and their textures give life to beings with their own scent, warmth, tactility, and modes of movement, from quick leaps to cautious lurking within the safety of bushes. This allows children to feel a direct connection to the forest and nature even inside the theatre, with all the imperfections that organic materials bring. Puppet designer and visual artist Liudmila Skitovič, a Belarusian artist, has demonstrated in past productions at our theatre that the organic craftsmanship and warmth of her puppets help fully realize meaningful stories that linger with audiences long after the performance ends.
The aesthetic image of the autumn forest, often accompanying Bambi productions and present here through visual elements, carries a sense of melancholy and tranquility. Autumn is a time of transformation, peacefully embracing its own transience, shifting appearance, and gradual slowing of natural cycles, for change is part of life and returns each year in natural order. Within the combination of content and visual methods lies the multilayered quality of the story and its staging: Bambi learns to accept life as it is—with dignity, understanding, and resistance to violence. In the autumn forest, warm and soft tones blend together; the light becomes diffused; leaves rustle and fade into greyness after they decay and their colors subside, making room for the slumbering winter. This quiet farewell evokes in the audience a serene perspective on life’s inevitabilities—unpleasant yet essential for a full, brave, and joyful existence.
Bambi remains a profoundly relevant tale. Its universality transcends time, place, and generations. As a puppet performance crafted from natural materials and steeped in the visual poetry of the forest, it becomes a gentle reminder that beauty, compassion, and respect for nature are not merely childhood values but the foundation of our humanity.
Nika Korenjak
