Reference · Iberian puppet-theatre cycles in autumn
For puppet companies, independent theatres, object-theatre collectives, performing-arts producers, animation labels and Mexican family tours crossing the Atlantic for the cycles convened every autumn by Spanish companies and cities — Titerejé in Jerez, the International Puppet Festival in Bilbao, Festitíteres in Alicante, among others. MXN pricing, CFDI 4.0 with complemento de pagos when applicable, carta porte 3.0 for the cross-border leg and direct delivery to the venue, the contracted hotel or the company's warehouse in Spain.
The Iberian circuit of the International Puppet Festival — with Titerejé in Jerez by La Gotera de Lazotea, the International Puppet Festival in Bilbao and Festitíteres in Alicante, among others — occupies a singular place in the European calendar of object theatre and family-facing animation. The programming combines in-house performances, outdoor representations in historic squares, puppet exhibitions and work tables with European programmers of the family and children's circuit. For a Mexican company, an object-theatre collective or a performing-arts producer crossing the ocean for one of the cycle dates, what decides the trip is not only the performance itself — it is also the round table with European programmers, the open workshop with puppeteers of the Mediterranean circuit and the morning of work with international distributors in the historic centre. The merch that crosses the border with the Mexican company is what remains in the programmer's and the audience's memory when the final performance ends.
Mexican companies bringing a performance to the circuit usually face two serious merch problems. The first is the image of the cast and the technical crew on tour: a version that survives the humid heat of the Mediterranean autumn or the cool of the Cantabrian autumn, the backstage fittings and the official photography at historic squares with Iberian late-afternoon light. The second is the piece for European programmers — the directors of family festivals in France, Italy, Germany and Portugal, the school-circuit programmers of the Mediterranean arc and the international distributors of object theatre who meet at the Spanish cycles are the ones deciding who gets the next tour contract, the next co-production or the next invitation to European festivals. A well-built box, with a numbered facsimile of the script, a discreet piece of jewellery and a curated selection of fine cacao in gift format, weighs more than a formal email sent after the performance.
Mexican family tours that build premium packages around the circuit run three kinds of merch: the traveller kit that stays at the boutique hotel of the historic centre, the gifts for the European guides who escort the group through the city and the coastal or mountain zone, and the mementos for passengers flying back to CDMX, Guadalajara or Monterrey. Independent theatre collectives bringing original scripts, figurines or first editions run a different front: brand presence on the cycle press desk and gifts for European programmers and international theatre fairs. Mexican sponsors with a presence on the European festival circuit — fine cacao houses, publishers distributed in Europe, importers of Ibero-American cultural goods — run yet another programme of brand activation at the official dinner and the post-performance reception. The three lines are distinct programmes with distinct MOQs and shipment legs, which we treat under a single purchase order in MXN, a single CFDI 4.0 with complemento de pagos and a single set of shipment legs between Madrid, Bilbao, Jerez and CDMX.
The cross-border freight deserves its own paragraph. The CDMX or Guadalajara to the cycle's host city route usually runs through a European hub with Iberia, Air Europa or consolidated freight with the company's forwarder, with a final road or rail leg to the contracted hotel. We typically recommend splitting the shipment between the cast's forwarder for apparel and base kit, and a dedicated air leg for the VIP boxes, under the purchase order with CFDI 4.0 and the corresponding export documentation, with a named consignee at the central hotel or in the dressing room of the main venue to sign for receipt and coordinate delivery before the dress rehearsal. The administrative close in Mexico runs under a single purchase order in MXN, a single CFDI 4.0 issued by the delegation with complemento de pagos when there are partial payments, and the export documentation for the cross-border leg, consolidating per-diem reimbursement, press freelancer fees and merch under the same invoice.
Combed cotton shirts with discreet embroidery of the company, light sweatshirts for rehearsals and strike-downs, technical backpacks for the tour crew, sized to cover every performance and the parallel programming at the host venue.
Heavy cotton tote bags with the company's stamp, stitched notebooks with fabric covers, double-wall steel bottles with matte finish and small string puppets, sized for the press desk, children's workshops and outdoor performances.
Curated editions with fine cacao in gift format, signature chocolates, numbered facsimiles of the script and vegan leather compendiums, reserved for meetings that produce a real next step with European family circuits and international theatre fairs.
Boxes built per recipient with name embroidery, ceramic drinkware, discreet jewellery and a numbered facsimile of the main script, delivered by name to the cycle direction, cultural authorities and the cycle's main sponsors.
Confirm artwork, Pantone references, quantities, packaging and the named reception contact at the hotel or in the dressing room of the hall before production starts. The hall's loading windows and the current cycle manual must be checked against the real schedule; the venue should never be treated as an open courier address. Freight from Mexico runs under its own purchase order with CFDI 4.0 and the corresponding export documentation, and we coordinate with the named consignee and the company's forwarder so both shipment legs reconcile cleanly on arrival at the host venue.
Eight to ten weeks is the safe window when production runs in Mexico and the cross-border freight leg reaches the cycle's host city. Shorter programmes are possible once they confirm, in writing, stock, marking methods and hall loading windows.
Only when the convening company or production office has confirmed the loading slot, dock access and named consignee. Most Mexican companies split the shipment between the cast's forwarder and a concierge named at their central hotel who can sign for the surplus and the VIP boxes.
A single purchase order in MXN, a single CFDI 4.0 with complemento de pagos when there are partial payments, and the corresponding export documentation for the cross-border leg. We do not split the relationship across two vendors.
No. Corp-Merch is an independent external supplier that helps companies, producers and attending tours prepare their own merch. It does not organise, sponsor or represent the Spanish puppet-theatre cycles or their convening companies.
Corp-Merch is an independent external supplier for companies, producers and attending tours. This page helps Mexican teams prepare their own merch for the event; it does not represent the organiser, the venue or any sponsor.