Sound of Music marionette show

A stage musical, not the film

The theatre describes this production as a marionette version of the original Broadway musical. That show has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, based on Maria von Trapp's 1949 book. It opened on Broadway in November 1959 and was Rodgers and Hammerstein's last musical. The 1965 film changed some songs: it added two new numbers and dropped two that the stage show contains. If you know only the film, expect a familiar story in a different shape.

What the evening is like

The show is performed in English, with explanations in several languages, including German, Italian, French and Spanish, projected beside the stage. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes with an interval after the first act. The theatre credits Richard Hamburger as director and Chris Barreca for the set design, and the puppets and equipment come from its own workshops. Guests who know the film say not to expect a scene-for-scene retelling, and still describe the evening as wonderful and amusing.

The songs

The stage musical's score is the source of the songs most visitors know: Do-Re-Mi, My Favorite Things, Edelweiss and Climb Ev'ry Mountain, along with the title song. The show is performed in English, so the lyrics need no translation. Because the marionette version follows the stage show, the song order and a few of the songs can differ from the film's, which is a good reason to arrive without a checklist of favourites to tick off.

A puppet number in the film

The 1965 film has a famous puppet number of its own, The Lonely Goatherd, with new choreography created for it. Visitors who know the film may look for that moment. The marionette theatre's show is a different thing: an entire musical performed by puppets, not one scene within a film. It is worth going in expecting the whole story to be told by figures on strings, not a puppet sequence in the middle of a human cast.

Salzburg as the setting

The story is set in Austria in 1938, with its centre in Salzburg, and the city was the setting and a filming location for the 1965 film. Tour companies now run excursions to the film's locations. Seeing the musical on marionettes in the city where it is set is a different way to meet the story, and it needs no transport: the theatre stands in the city centre, so it fits easily around a day of sightseeing.

Read next: Visit the Salzburg Marionette Theatre

How the show came to Salzburg

The theatre's page lists the production's first performance on the marionette stage in Dallas in November 2007, and its history page records The Sound of Music as a Salzburg premiere in 2008. It joined a repertoire already centred on Mozart operas, plays and fairy tales, and the theatre now lists it among its operas and musicals, next to The Magic Flute. Marionettes made in the theatre's own workshops carry every role.

Who it suits

The theatre says the production holds enormous appeal for all ages. It suits fans of the story who want English throughout, families with older children, and anyone who wants a lighter evening than a full opera. If you prefer Mozart, The Magic Flute is the company's signature opera, and the booking calendar shows which of the two plays on your dates. The tickets aren't suitable for children under 4.

Read next: Salzburg Marionette Theatre tickets

Who this isn't for

Look elsewhere if you need the film's exact songs and scenes or live singing, or if a child under 4 is in your party. Guests also mention that the hall can feel warm in summer, so a fan or light layers help. The repertoire is seasonal, so confirm your date in the booking calendar before you plan around this show.