Rusalka Toy Theatre

A Romeo and Juliet tale between the sea and the earth — should a Water Nymph fall in love with a human?
This melancholic love story, inspired by the water sprites of Slavic mythology and best known through Dvořák’s opera Rusalka, is reimagined here as a beautifully crafted paper theatre.

Artist María Gordon has created a highly decorative, reversible paper theatre for Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop, cleverly telling the story in two contrasting scenes — the world of water and the world of land. Rusalka herself appears as a paper doll with a folk dress that transforms when she becomes human.

Printed in London using traditional offset lithography, this newly commissioned work is presented in a decorative, branded folder. Inside are seven prints to cut out and construct, together with an illustrated booklet containing the story synopsis and full instructions.

Immerse yourself in the magic of Rusalka as you bring María Gordon’s artwork to life in three dimensions — a captivating way to experience this timeless tale through making.