Currently based at the Avantgarden Playhouse, Trondheim, Petrusjka Theatre is one of Norway’s oldest independent professional theatres which has been in production since its establishment by the Artistic Director Tatjana Zaitzow in 1978. Educated as an architect, her work now includes puppet making, stage design, puppetry, acting and play writing. Petrusjka Theatre has received several national and international prizes for its performances and its work in strengthening the art of puppet theatre. The group has toured extensively, having been invited to theatre festivals in Scandinavia, Europe, Canada and Russia. Petrusjka produces puppetry performances for adults and children and arranges exhibitions and multi-media performances. The group uses few actors of flesh and blood, preferring figures or objects made of inanimate materials. By the use of movement, light and sound these characters come to life and make the audience believe in them as they get emotionally involved with the story. The ideas behind these projects usually start from small episodes of daily life, together with an awareness of light, shadows, sound patterns, movement, shape and the amazing quality of materials.