Austria's Salzburg Marionette Theatre keeps puppet tradition going

Puppeteer Edouard Funck is seen with faceless puppets in a storage prior to the 'Snow White' fairytale puppet show at the Unesco recognised Salzburg Marionette Theatre in Salzburg, Austria. Photo: AFP

It takes as long to train to be a puppeteer at the world-famous Salzburg Marionette Theatre as it does to become a doctor.

The puppets and their startlingly lifelike movements take years to master, which is why the Austrian theatre's work has Unesco World Heritage status.