To all fans and friends of GUSTAF AND HIS ENSEMBLE

The big 50th stage anniversary celebration of GUSTAF AND HIS ENSEMBLE was a resounding success. The hopes we had during the year's planning and organization of this event were fulfilled, thanks to the enthusiastic participation of our audience. Clown GUSTAF was cheered in the sold-out state theatre, heaped with praises from Direktor Schirmer, compared to the great masters by Dr. Lechner of Goethe Institute, and raised to global importance by Prof. Roccoberton, U.S.A.

All performances on two weekends of GUSTAF AND HIS ENSEMBLE, Master Huang from Quanzou, the "figurentheater Tübingen" and "Theater Meschugge" played to sold out, or near sold-out houses. The audience were impressed and celebrated with us.

Aside from performances, an interesting international panel discussion was held in the Linden Museum with the title: The Marionette, Tradition and Innovation. Participating with me were Simon Wong, China; Prof. Jurkowski, Polen; Prof. Roccoberton, U.S.A. and Frank Soehnle, Germany.

Our anniversary publication "An seidenen Fäden" (German and English text) - by the way a good gift idea - came fresh from the press just in time for the Gala evening performance.
An Exhibit with photographs by Ingrid Höfer of figures from the large stage productions of the past years was shown in the state theatre foyer.
The newest marionette constructions of Arachne, an intricate transformation figure; the goddess Athena, and the Fool were presented for the first time as insight into the work of the past 12 month, and as a prospect for the future.

We want thank all who contributed to this success: the State Theatre of Baden-Württemberg, Linden Museum, City of Stuttgart, State of Baden-Württemberg, sponsors, all collaborators and well-wisher, and our audience!

Prof. Albrecht Roser