Heinz Schröder
Encyclopedia
Heinz Schröder was a German
puppeteer
. He became known in East Germany (German Democratic Republic) for puppeteering popular characters such as Pittiplatsch
and Herr Fuchs (Mr. Fox) in the children's program of the East German television
. From 1993 to 2009, Schröder continued to portray his characters in live performances.
and grew up in the borough Friedrichshain
. Early in his life, he became interested in puppets and made figures out of potatoes. After Schröder broke from an apprenticeship as a design draughtsman
, he got by taking odd jobs. After 1945 he worked in the magistrate
of East Berlin
and later in the district committee of the Free German Youth
. From 1953, he performed in the newly founded puppet theater of the Berlin Pioneer
Park "Ernst Thälmann
" and from 1957 he finally started puppeteering on East German television, which should continue for over 30 years until 1991.
The most famous character Schröder portrayed and still puppeteered and voiced after his television career is Pittiplatsch
, who first appeared in 1962. He was also one of Pittiplatsch's creators since he originally came up with the idea for a kobold
character and also reworked the first Pittiplatsch model before the first appearance on television.
In 1991, the production of new television episodes with characters Heinz Schröder portrayed had been discontinued. However, from 1993 to 2009 he had been performing live with a puppeteer ensemble puppeteering characters originating from East German children's television.
Schröder stated that making children's eyes shine with his performances is his life. He also said that the good thing about his time at the East German television was that he and the other puppeteers were not constrained politically, commenting that one couldn't put a pioneer scarf on a fox.
Heinz Schröder was married and lived in Schöneiche
near Berlin. The last time he performed was on March 29, 2009. He died unexpectedly on April 22, 2009. One day before his death, a spinal tumor
was detected. Schröder was buried in Schöneiche in the presence of his immediate family circle.
("Little Sandman") series. Characters he puppeteered and mostly also voiced include:
During his live performances, he still portrayed Pittiplatsch, Herr Fuchs, Frau Igel, Onkel Uhu, and Buddelflink.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
puppeteer
Puppeteer
A puppeteer is a person who manipulates an inanimate object, such as a puppet, in real time to create the illusion of life. The puppeteer may be visible to or hidden from the audience. A puppeteer can operate a puppet indirectly by the use of strings, rods, wires, electronics or directly by his or...
. He became known in East Germany (German Democratic Republic) for puppeteering popular characters such as Pittiplatsch
Pittiplatsch
Pittiplatsch, also known as Pitti for short, is a German fictional kobold character who was very famous in East Germany , especially as a puppet character on children's television...
and Herr Fuchs (Mr. Fox) in the children's program of the East German television
Deutscher Fernsehfunk
Deutscher Fernsehfunk , known from 1972 to 1990 as Fernsehen der DDR , was the state television broadcaster in East Germany.-Foundation:...
. From 1993 to 2009, Schröder continued to portray his characters in live performances.
Life and career
Heinz Schröder was born in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and grew up in the borough Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain is a part of Berlin's borough of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, and like Kreuzberg across the river it has its own distinct character, with the result that the new double name is hardly ever used outside government administration. From its creation in 1920 until Berlin's 2001...
. Early in his life, he became interested in puppets and made figures out of potatoes. After Schröder broke from an apprenticeship as a design draughtsman
Technical drawing
Technical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the act and discipline of composing plans that visually communicate how something functions or has to be constructed.Drafting is the language of industry....
, he got by taking odd jobs. After 1945 he worked in the magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
of East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
and later in the district committee of the Free German Youth
Free German Youth
The Free German Youth, also known as the FDJ , was the official socialist youth movement of the German Democratic Republic and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany....
. From 1953, he performed in the newly founded puppet theater of the Berlin Pioneer
Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation
The Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation, consisting of the Young Pioneers and the Thälmann Pioneers, was a youth organisation of schoolchildren aged 6 to 14, in East Germany...
Park "Ernst Thälmann
Ernst Thälmann
Ernst Thälmann was the leader of the Communist Party of Germany during much of the Weimar Republic. He was arrested by the Gestapo in 1933 and held in solitary confinement for eleven years, before being shot in Buchenwald on Adolf Hitler's orders in 1944...
" and from 1957 he finally started puppeteering on East German television, which should continue for over 30 years until 1991.
The most famous character Schröder portrayed and still puppeteered and voiced after his television career is Pittiplatsch
Pittiplatsch
Pittiplatsch, also known as Pitti for short, is a German fictional kobold character who was very famous in East Germany , especially as a puppet character on children's television...
, who first appeared in 1962. He was also one of Pittiplatsch's creators since he originally came up with the idea for a kobold
Kobold
The kobold is a sprite stemming from Germanic mythology and surviving into modern times in German folklore. Although usually invisible, a kobold can materialise in the form of an animal, fire, a human being, and a candle. The most common depictions of kobolds show them as humanlike figures the size...
character and also reworked the first Pittiplatsch model before the first appearance on television.
In 1991, the production of new television episodes with characters Heinz Schröder portrayed had been discontinued. However, from 1993 to 2009 he had been performing live with a puppeteer ensemble puppeteering characters originating from East German children's television.
Schröder stated that making children's eyes shine with his performances is his life. He also said that the good thing about his time at the East German television was that he and the other puppeteers were not constrained politically, commenting that one couldn't put a pioneer scarf on a fox.
Heinz Schröder was married and lived in Schöneiche
Schöneiche
Schöneiche is a municipality in the Oder-Spree District of Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated directly at the edge to Berlin/Köpenick.-External links:...
near Berlin. The last time he performed was on March 29, 2009. He died unexpectedly on April 22, 2009. One day before his death, a spinal tumor
Spinal tumor
Spinal tumors are neoplasms located in the spinal cord. They are mostly metastases from primary cancers elsewhere . Primary tumors may be benign Spinal tumors are neoplasms located in the spinal cord. They are mostly metastases from primary cancers elsewhere (commonly breast, prostate and lung...
was detected. Schröder was buried in Schöneiche in the presence of his immediate family circle.
Roles
Schröder mostly portrayed puppet characters appearing within the Zu Besuch im Märchenland ("Visiting Fairy Land") and SandmännchenSandmännchen
Unser Sandmännchen, Das Sandmännchen, Abendgruß, Sandmann, Sandmännchen is a German children's bedtime television programme using stop motion animation...
("Little Sandman") series. Characters he puppeteered and mostly also voiced include:
- PittiplatschPittiplatschPittiplatsch, also known as Pitti for short, is a German fictional kobold character who was very famous in East Germany , especially as a puppet character on children's television...
- Herr Fuchs (Mr. Fox)
- Frau Igel (Mrs. Hedgehog)
- Brummel the bear
- Bummi the bear
- Onkel Uhu (Uncle Eagle Owl)
- Buddelflink the mole
- Casimir in Das Spielhaus ("The Playhouse"), puppeteering only
During his live performances, he still portrayed Pittiplatsch, Herr Fuchs, Frau Igel, Onkel Uhu, and Buddelflink.