Öcher Schängche, Puppet theatre in Aachen, Germany

Öcher Schängche is a puppet theatre in Aachen that performs with rod puppets carved from lime wood. Its stage name comes from its main character, the Schängche. The ensemble performs fairy-tale adaptations, Aachen legends and plays for adults, mixing Öcher Platt dialect with standard German so that children can follow the plots.

The theatre was founded in 1921 and moved to a permanent home at Barockfabrik on Löhergraben in 1982. This relocation established a stable base for the company's long-term operations.

The performances play a central role in Aachen's identity and demonstrate how puppet theatre keeps the local language alive. Visitors experience how the dialect continues to be passed down through the characters and stories today.

The theatre presents regular performances throughout the year, with special shows during carnival season. Programs are designed for both children from around age five and for adult audiences looking for different kinds of experiences.

The puppets are carved from lime wood and operated as rod puppets, not string marionettes. The first production, based on the Aachen cathedral-building legend, was "Der Teufel in Aachen oder Et Schängche köllt der Krippekratz" by Will Hermanns, and it still opens every season.