Matthias Trautmann

Jochen the elephant

Jochen the elephant is a charming, bicycle-riding mimic figure who engages passers-by in conversation with wit and curiosity.
Thanks to modern remote control technology, the elephant, who is only 1.10 metres tall, moves around the festival grounds completely autonomously, chatting with bystanders and playing music.

Puppeteer Matthias Trautmann had Jochen cycle all over Germany and Europe. At numerous festivals, fairs, markets and garden shows, visitors young and old took the elephant to their hearts.
Trautmann has a degree in puppetry and has been active in puppet theatre for 30 years, including at the Meiningen Theatre and the German National Theatre in Weimar. Since 2005 he has been working as a freelance puppeteer, specialising in Jochen the Elephant.