Mountain Puppets Poetic Theater from Southern Brazil
Bonecos da Montanha – Brazilian Puppet Theatre . We create puppet theater inspired by memory, territory, and people’s stories.
UNIMA Member | ABTB Brazil | Based in Gramado, South Brazil
About Bonecos da Montanha
Bonecos da Montanha is a Brazilian puppet theatre collective founded in 2011 by puppeteers Nelson Haas and Elisabeth Bado. It was born from the union of two earlier groups: Sô Rindo (1992) and Atelier dos Bonequeiros (2004), both rooted in the mountains of Rio Grande do Sul. We create puppet theatre inspired by memory, territory, and people’s stories.
We are proud to represent the poetic tradition of Brazilian puppet theatre internationally. Our work has been presented in over 200 cities across Brazil and in countries including Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Taiwan, Wales, England, and France.
Artistic Approach
We explore a wide range of puppetry techniques — from glove and rod puppets to marionettes and large-scale figures. Our productions prioritize poetry, original sketches, and the interaction between actor, puppet, and audience.
The group was officially recognized in 2012 by the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul and the Gaúcha Folklore Commission for its artistic and community contributions. In addition, our creations carry influences from Brazilian popular traditions, with a unique mix of Argentinean and Northeastern Brazilian touches.
Meet the Puppeteers
Nelson Haas, 53, has more than 30 years of experience in puppetry.
His first experience was with the group Animando Bonecos, from Caxias do Sul, where he worked alongside Alexandre Boss. In 1989 he moved to Florianópolis, where he created the Só Rindo Teatro de Bonecos in 1992.
Puppeteer, manipulator, actor, director and set designer, carries out research, creation and production of puppets, puppets with strings, sticks and giant puppets.
Affiliated and Councilor of the Brazilian Association of Puppet Theater (ABTB), an entity that represents the International Union of the Puppet (UNIMA-Brasil), Nelson is also an actor registered with SATED/RS.
He worked as a teacher in the municipal school system in the cities of Caxias do Sul, Morro Reütter, Canela, Gramado and Taquara, teaching workshops on puppet construction and theatrical development.
He coordinated the Ponto de Cultura Bonecos Canela – Cultura Viva from 2005 to 2011. In 2011, together with the doll maker Beth Bado, they created Bonecos da Montanha. He presents his works at festivals, informal spaces, companies and the media.
Beth Bado, 52, puppeteer.
Her encounter with Arts started with Classical Ballet and Jazz as a child. Later, she pursued academic research and hands-on production in both cultural and artistic settings.
In 2004 she decided to get fully engaged with Puppetry.
Her passion for glove puppetry took her to perform in many cities in Brazil and in other countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and France.
Studied Philosophy and Public Relations.
Along with her partner, Nelson Haas, works with vulnerable children and teenagers using puppets as a tool for artistic expression and citizen development.
Their work is based on the triad ‘actor-puppet-audience’ which is a tribute to the long-forgotten times where simplicity used to be the artist’s universal language.
Their group, the Bonecos da Montanha, is environment-preservation oriented prioritizing re-used materials thus reducing the impact of their performances on the planet.
Beth Bado is currently the vice-president of ABTB (Brazilian Puppetry Association), an entity that represents UNIMA (Union Internationale de La Marionette) in Brazil.
Our Shows
The performances of Bonecos da Montanha – on stage for more than 30 years – stand out for their poetic and tradition of the popular art within the Brazilian puppetry adapted to a great variety of performing sites.
We have already performed in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and France.
We offer 3 shows:
A Child’s Dream – children and teens
Premiered in 2000, this show tells the story of a boy who dreams of becoming an artist. Using multiple characters and animation techniques, it invites the audience to reflect while having fun.
AmericanaMente – for adults
A poetic and feminine approach to Latin American identity, exploring similarities and contrasts through object theater and shadow puppetry.
Gaúchos – any age
Opening night: 2011
A performance where the gaucho music sets the atmosphere. It pays homage to the tradition of talking by a bonfire, telling typical tales and stories of the South. It is a poetic tribute to these men who lived in the South of Brazil.
Brazilian puppet theatre, in our case, blends personal stories, recycled materials and community voices.
Workshops & Creative Space
We also offer workshops on puppet-making with reused materials and creative manipulation techniques, tailored for schools, festivals, and cultural spaces.