"The Hvammstangi International Puppetry Festival presents Rooted by Handbendi (Iceland).

It is the summer of 1995, and a young boy in a small Icelandic town is about to meet his grandmother, his Abuela, for the first time. She arrives from Paraguay like a burst of colour and song, bringing with her a suitcase filled with stories, memories, and a touch of magic. With her arrival, the ordinary world begins to shift: kitchens turn into landscapes of dreams, and the birds carry voices from faraway places.

Told through the eyes of the boy, and the man he becomes, Rót moves between past and present, Iceland and South America, reality and imagination. Through song, puppetry, and striking visual theatre, the play explores what it means to grow up between worlds, to carry different histories within you, and to discover that no one is half of anything — we are all whole.

For ages 6+

In collaboration with The National Theatre of Iceland, Reykjavík Arts Festival, and Menningarfélag Akureyri.

Join us at HIP Fest 2026 for world class puppetry, unforgettable stories, and family friendly entertainment in Northwest Iceland. Just two hours from Reykjavík, the festival combines international artists, a unique village atmosphere, and one of Iceland's most beautiful campgrounds."