TRICKTREK
THEATER
THEATER
Tricktrek theater
Tricktrek is a family theatre of mechanical objects founded by Serafima and Alexander Andreev. The project began in 2017 with work on its first production, Crocodile, which premiered in February 2018.
Alongside our theatre work, we created wooden mechanical toys and interactive objects. Gradually, this practice developed into larger-scale mechanical installations for festivals, museums, and public spaces — Wheel of Fortune, Gnomes, and Printing Gnomes.
In 2021, we opened Wonder Wooden Lab in Tallinn’s Old Town — a space combining a workshop, theatre, and shop. Here we created mechanical objects and toys, staged performances, and organised workshops and creative activities for children.
In 2023, our wordless performance Kuthi premiered at Vaba Lava Tallinn with the support of the Tallinn Culture and Sports Department. The performance received international recognition and has since been presented at numerous festivals across Europe.
In 2025, Wonder Wooden Lab closed as we decided to focus on theatre and international touring.
In 2026, Tricktrek began working on a new production, Dragon. Part of the work on the performance took place during an artist residency in Charleville-Mézières, France — a city with a long tradition of puppetry. The premiere is planned for early 2027 with the support of the Kulka Foundation.
Today, Tricktrek is an actively touring theatre that continues to develop its artistic language, combining theatre, mechanical objects, visual art, and hands-on work with materials.
Alongside our theatre work, we created wooden mechanical toys and interactive objects. Gradually, this practice developed into larger-scale mechanical installations for festivals, museums, and public spaces — Wheel of Fortune, Gnomes, and Printing Gnomes.
In 2021, we opened Wonder Wooden Lab in Tallinn’s Old Town — a space combining a workshop, theatre, and shop. Here we created mechanical objects and toys, staged performances, and organised workshops and creative activities for children.
In 2023, our wordless performance Kuthi premiered at Vaba Lava Tallinn with the support of the Tallinn Culture and Sports Department. The performance received international recognition and has since been presented at numerous festivals across Europe.
In 2025, Wonder Wooden Lab closed as we decided to focus on theatre and international touring.
In 2026, Tricktrek began working on a new production, Dragon. Part of the work on the performance took place during an artist residency in Charleville-Mézières, France — a city with a long tradition of puppetry. The premiere is planned for early 2027 with the support of the Kulka Foundation.
Today, Tricktrek is an actively touring theatre that continues to develop its artistic language, combining theatre, mechanical objects, visual art, and hands-on work with materials.
"Kuthi"
The performance "Kuthi" is a unique puppet show without words, combining elements of engineering and mechanics. Immerses the audience in the atmosphere of a medieval castle full of secrets and unexpected plot twists.
The plot of the play revolves around the wedding of the king's daughter, during which the castle is suddenly attacked by ancient warriors-crows Kuthi. The castle comes to life thanks to complex wooden mechanisms: sliding walls, movable parts and secret rooms. The audience can expect siege guns, catapults, the cunning of the defenders and the treachery of the attackers, as well as an unpredictable ending.
All the decorations and characters are handmade from wood, which gives the performance a special atmosphere.
The performance has been presented at various international festivals and has won several awards for best set design.
Duration: 30 minutes.
Non verbal
Inside and outside on the streets.
6+
“
Kuthi
1 big dream
2 years of work
80 wooden figures
2 actors since 2026
5 awards
1 big dream
2 years of work
80 wooden figures
2 actors since 2026
5 awards
"Crocodile"
All the scenery of the play, all the characters are made of wood.
This is a performance mechanism that is increasingly complicated towards the finale.
The main character is a terrible, nasty, nasty, treacherous HUGE CROCODILE who dreams of eating a child for lunch! But it's not so easy to do this, because a hungry crocodile develops a whole series of WITTY tricks, showing the wonders of disguise.
Fortunately, the rascal's idea was not crowned with success, because all the jungles rebelled against him: a hippopotamus, an elephant, and even a monkey.
This is a very, very funny story!
Duration: 30 minutes.
In Russian language.
The maximum number of small spectators is 45 people.
4+
"Dragon"
The performance is currently in development.
It is based on the book “Where Is the Dragon?” by the Belgian author Leo Timmers.
Late at night, two brave knights set out in search of a terrifying dragon. They are certain that a dangerous adventure and a great battle await them ahead.
In the darkness, the monster seems to appear again and again: glowing dragon eyes flash in the bushes — but it turns out to be rabbits nibbling on carrots. A huge shadow of a gaping mouth looms — but it is only a bear.
Each new “frightening” moment turns into a comic scene of discovery, where fear gives way to laughter and curiosity.
Gradually, the knights — and the audience along with them — realize that the dragon does not live outside, but in their imagination.
It is a warm and joyful story about perception, courage, and the ability to see kindness in what at first seems frightening.
The performance is being created with the support of Eesti Kultuurkapital and Hooandja. Part of the set was built during an art residency in Charleville-Mézières.
Non verbal
Premiere in 2026
4+
Kids workshops
We run creative workshops with children as part of camps, educational, and cultural programs. Together with the participants, we imagine and create large-scale theatrical objects, sets, costumes, and structures using simple and accessible materials.
For us, it is important that the object created is not simply the final result of the workshop, but becomes part of a shared experience. Children can animate it, play with it, invent characters and stories, and create small performances. In this way, the process of making gradually transforms into play and theatre.
For us, it is important that the object created is not simply the final result of the workshop, but becomes part of a shared experience. Children can animate it, play with it, invent characters and stories, and create small performances. In this way, the process of making gradually transforms into play and theatre.
Other projects
Festivals
- 202617-20 April - Immagina Puppet festival, Rome, Italy
27 April - 13 May - Performances and kids activities in Nederlands.
17 May - Olginate, Italy
21-24 May - Shakespeare festival, Craiova, Romania
29-31 May - Bisontere puppet festival, Santillana del Mar, Spain
5-7 June - Open Mantova festival, Mantova, Italy
11-12 June - Artistiinpiazza, Pennabilli, Italy
13-14 June - FUC festival, Istria, Hroatia
28 June - Valise puppet festival, Lomza, Poland
1 July - Loutkarska Chrudim festival, Chrudim, Czech Republic
3-4 July - Festival Fantastika, Freistadt, Austria
5-6 July - Urbinoteatrourbano festival, Urbino, Italy
7 July - PUF festival, Koper, Slovenia
10-12 July - Streetmusic festival, Satu Mare, Romania
17-18 July - Tortosa, Spain
24-26 July - Bamberg festival, Bamberg, Germany
13-15 August - DIG festival, Silkeborg, Denmark
26 August - Liege, Belgium
29-30 August - Festival Rue du Bocage, Herve, Belgium
4-6 September - WonderPUK, Cluj-Napoka, Romania
12-13 September - Trabados festival, Spain
19-20 September - Renaissance du Roi de l`Oiseau - 2025February 2025 - Jamc festival, Carthage, Tunisia
April 2025 - Bursa Assitej festival, Turkey
Tour 2025 June-October (14 countries, 90 perfomances)
June 2025 - Usedom street festival, Germany
June 2025 - Anamonro Festival, Slovenia
June 2025 - PUF, Slovenia
June 2025 - FITS, Sibiu, Romania
June 2025 - FIMO, Ovar, Portugal
July 2025 - Linz Street festival, Austria
August 2025 - Ferarra busker festival, Italy
August 2025 - Aurillac festival, France
September 2025 - Brouwsels op straat, Belgium
September 2025 - PIF, Zagreb, Hroatia
September 2025 - Charleville Mezieres, France
October 2025 - Golden dolfin festival, Bulgaria
October 2025 - Animo festival, Poland - 2024March 2024 – Portsxinella Festival, Castillon, Spain.
Summer 2024 - European tour (16 countries, 50 performances)
July 2024 - Festival Pelagruart, Pellagrue, France.
July 2024 – Festival Musicalarue, Luxé, France.
August 2024 - Festival Openopole, Opole, Poland
August 2024 - Puppets occupy street, Craiova, Romania
September 2024 - Puppets festival, Subotica, Serbia (Award - Best stage design)
September 2024 - Flum festival, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Award - Best stage design)
November 2024 - Jula festival, Munich, Germany - 2023February – premiere of the performance "Kuthi" by Vaba Lava Tallinn, Estonia.
June - Tallinn days festival
July - Medieval days in Tallinn
August – European tour (8 countries, 28 performances) and participation in the Festival d'Aurillac, France.
Awards
Puppets festival, Subotica, Serbia
Best stage design
Flum festival, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Best stage design
PIF festival, Zagreb, Croatia
Special commendation for a play inspired by tradition
Golden dolfin festival, Varna, Bulgaria
Diploma for the precise contemporary realization of a classical tradition
Valise puppet festival, Lomza, Poland
The special Award - for cultivating the tradition of mechanical theatre.
tricktreklab@gmail.com
