Enjoy unlimited free admission to two of China’s most important cultural heritage sites:

• Langzhong Ancient City Scenic Area

• Tiangongyuan Scenic Area

No booking required. Simply show your membership and enter.

👤 Who Can Use This

All formally registered UNIMA members worldwide
with a valid digital membership card

🎟 How It Works

• Present your UNIMA digital membership card at the entrance

• Visit anytime during normal opening hours

• Return as often as you like — no limits

🤝 Why This Matters

Langzhong and UNIMA are connected through a shared dedication to puppetry arts.

The region is home to:

• Northern Sichuan Giant Puppet

• Wang’s Shadow Play

These traditions form part of China’s rich intangible cultural heritage, alongside the Spring Festival, recognised by UNESCO.

This benefit celebrates that connection and supports artistic exchange across the global UNIMA community.

📍 About Langzhong

A city of exceptional historical and cultural importance:

• One of China’s Four Great Ancient Cities

• 5A National Tourist Attraction

• Over 2,300 years of history

Highlights:

• 90+ preserved ancient streets

• 200+ Ming & Qing dynasty courtyards

• Historic landmarks from the Three Kingdoms era

“A city embraced by mountains and river — a living cultural landscape.”

📜 Official Recognition

This benefit is formally granted by the
Langzhong Ancient City Culture and Tourism Development authority,
with official seal and signature.

🌏 For UNIMA Members

Members are warmly encouraged to visit Langzhong for:

• Artistic research

• Cultural exchange

• Study visits and collaborations

🙏 With Thanks

UNIMA International extends its gratitude to:
Langzhong Ancient City Culture and Tourism Development
and UNIMA China
for this generous support of the global puppetry community.

ℹ️ Important

A valid UNIMA digital membership card is required for entry.
For membership queries, please contact the UNIMA Secretariat.

More info

Montréal to host key gathering for the future of UNIMA

UNIMA has officially announced that its 2027 Council and Extraordinary Congress will take place in Montréal, Canada, from 2–6 March 2027.

This upcoming Congress marks an important moment for the organisation. Alongside international exchange and discussion, members will be invited to review and vote on new Statutes and Rules of Procedure, shaping how UNIMA operates in the years ahead.

In a complex global context, this gathering represents a continued commitment to collaboration, dialogue, and the strengthening of our international puppetry community.

📅 Dates: 2–6 March 2027
📍 Location: Montréal, Canada
🗳 Focus: UNIMA Council & Extraordinary Congress

Members’ Access

The preliminary agenda for the Congress, along with additional context, is available to BrUNIMA members below.

This document is an early working version and may be subject to change as preparations continue.

Read more

We’re pleased to spotlight the return of the Nottingham Puppet Festival, a vibrant, city-wide celebration of puppetry running from 27 June to 5 July 2026.

More info

🌆 A City Transformed

Led by Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham and City Arts, the festival brings together local, national and international artists to fill Nottingham with puppetry of every kind—across theatres, streets, community spaces and unexpected corners of the city.

From large-scale outdoor work to intimate performances, alongside workshops, talks and screenings, it’s a chance to experience the full range of what puppetry can be.

More info

🎭 Why Puppets?

Puppetry has a unique power to tell stories beyond the limits of reality—whether exploring big ideas, everyday experiences, or entirely imagined worlds. This festival celebrates that breadth, bringing audiences closer to both the craft and the imagination behind the work.

More info

🤝 A Festival for Everyone

A core aim of the festival is accessibility and inclusion, with events programmed across a wide network of venues including libraries, schools, arts centres and public spaces. It’s a genuinely city-wide, community-focused celebration.

More info

🌱 Sustainable Practice

The festival also champions environmentally conscious making, supporting artists who work with recycled materials and exploring ecological themes through puppetry.

Keep an eye on the Nottingham Puppet Festival website for programme announcements and upcoming events.

A brilliant addition to this summer’s puppetry calendar—and one to watch.

View past festival highlights below.

More info

British UNIMA is delighted to share this online opportunity from our friends at Puppets in Prague—a chance to meet one of the most exciting emerging voices in Czech theatre design.

More info | Book Now

🎭 About the Workshop

Join Dominik Migač, winner of the Theatre Critics’ Award for Best Scenography 2025, for a special Puppet Recipe online session exploring his innovative approach to puppetry, scenography, and technology.

Dominik is a visual artist, scenographer, puppeteer, and performer whose work uncovers the stories embedded within materials. His practice uniquely blends:

• Traditional Czech puppetry

• Multimedia and digital tools

• Coding, sensors, and basic electronics

• 3D printing alongside historical materials

During this session, Dominik will:

• Share insights into his creative process and design approach

• Present his recent award-winning work, including Loops and Hoops

• Demonstrate how technology integrates into puppetry practice

• Introduce sensor-based elements developed for automata

  More info | Book Now

🌐 Event Details (Online)

📅 Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
🕖 Time:

• 7:00 – 9:00 PM (Prague time)

• 6:00 – 8:00 PM (UK time)

• 1:00 – 3:00 PM (EST)

📍 Location: Online via Zoom
(Recording available after the session, with additional instructions provided)

More info | Book Now

🎟 Booking & Access

Standard ticket: €30

Or access this session through the Puppet Recipes subscription:

• €15/month (with annual Golden Czech Hands subscription)

• Includes access to past and future workshop recordings

More info | Book Now

🎓 About the Artist

Dominik Migač is a recent graduate of the Department of Alternative and Puppet Theatre at DAMU (Prague). His work is currently touring festivals across Europe, and he regularly leads workshops focused on integrating technology and puppetry.

His award-winning production Loops and Hoops explores the oppressive uniformity of the former Czechoslovak totalitarian regime through inventive mechanical systems and multimedia scenography.

More info | Book Now

🌍 About Puppets in Prague

Puppets in Prague is an internationally recognised organisation dedicated to sharing the rich tradition and evolving practice of Czech puppetry through workshops, courses, and professional training—both in-person and online.

Their Puppet Recipes series offers accessible, artist-led sessions designed to inspire and connect a global puppetry community.

More info | Book Now

If you can’t attend live, booking still gives you access to the recording, making this a flexible way to learn from a leading contemporary scenographer.

A great opportunity to connect internationally and explore how puppetry continues to evolve across disciplines.

More info | Book Now

British UNIMA is pleased to highlight this special opportunity to work with international puppet maker Anne Murray (Refuge Puppets), presented as part of the Bristol Experimental Puppet Festival 2026.

More info | Book Now

🧵 About the Workshop

This two-day, hands-on glove puppet making workshop invites participants to design and build their own unique puppet character using recycled and re-harvested materials. Across the two sessions, you will learn techniques including carving, papier-mâché, sewing, painting, and assembling a finished glove puppet.

Participants will:

• Carve expressive puppet heads and hands from re-used styrofoam

• Use paper, glue, and paint to shape and finish features

• Sew and construct costumes using recycled clothing and fabrics

• Develop a character through making, guided by Anne’s socially engaged approach

You are encouraged to bring a piece of clothing or textile to incorporate into your puppet, giving new life to existing materials.

This workshop is suitable for beginners and experienced makers alike, and offers a supportive, collaborative environment focused on creativity, storytelling, and shared making.

📍 Workshop Dates & Locations

Day 1 – Sunday, May 31 (10:00–16:00)
Puppet Place, Bristol
Focus on carving, forming, and beginning costume construction.

Day 2 – Sunday, June 7 (17:00–21:00)
PRSC (Stokes Croft), Bristol
Painting, assembling, and completing your puppet.

Note: Final sealing spray will need to be applied at home once materials are fully dry.

More info | Book Now

🎟 Booking & Access

More info | Book Now

Places are limited, so early booking is recommended.

Concessions
A limited number of concession tickets are available. If cost is a barrier, please contact:
undergrowth.c@gmail.com

🎭 About the Artist

Anne Murray (Ireland/USA, based in Spain) is a puppet maker and socially engaged artist whose work centres on puppetry as a tool for advocacy, healing, and collective expression.

Her project, Refuge Puppets, creates spaces where people affected by trauma, displacement, and conflict can come together through making and performance. Her practice connects craft with activism—bringing visibility to lived experiences that are often marginalised or unheard.

As part of the festival, Anne will also present her giant puppet “Aboud”, representing a real child in Gaza, and take part in a Palestinian Solidarity Night featuring films by puppeteers in Gaza and the West Bank. This event will raise funds to support their ongoing work.

More info | Book Now

🌍 About the Festival

The Bristol Experimental Puppet Festival is a 10-day, cross-city, DIY festival taking place in June 2026, celebrating the vibrant and often hidden world of puppetry.

Bringing together local collectives and international artists, the festival invites audiences and participants alike to experience puppetry in unexpected forms—through performances, workshops, parades, film screenings, and interventions in public space.

Rooted in collaboration and experimentation, the festival aims to:

• Animate the city through creative and rebellious expression

• Create connections between artists, communities, and audiences

• Explore puppetry as a living, political, and imaginative artform

Events will take place across a range of Bristol venues including:
PRSC, The Cube Microplex, Puppet Place, Afghan Tasty Corner, The Loco Club, and more.

The festival is entirely volunteer-run, and welcomes support. If you would like to get involved—whether through volunteering, documentation, or offering space—please contact:
bristolexperimentalpuppetfestival@protonmail.com

Bristol Experimental Puppet Festival

🔗 Stay Connected

Follow the artists and organisers:
refugepuppets
annemurray.art
undergrowth_collective
puppetplace
stokescroftchina

Join in to build, create, and connect—through puppetry that brings people together and gives form to powerful stories.

We’re sharing an exciting opportunity from our friends at the Newcastle Puppetry Festival — a brilliant platform for puppetry and visual theatre artists.

🌟 Newcastle Puppetry Festival 2027

Prospective dates: 3rd–11th April 2027
Application deadline: Sunday 24th May 2026, 11:59pm (UK time)

The festival is currently inviting applications from artists and companies working across puppetry and related forms.

They are looking for:

• Indoor stage shows (adults & teens)

• Indoor stage shows (children & families)

• Early years performances

• Outdoor walkabout acts

• Outdoor shows

• Cabaret acts & sideshow oddities

• Masterclasses & workshops

• Other puppetry-led work and creative experiments

Focus areas include: puppetry, object theatre, stop motion, kinetic art, and automata.
(Work without these elements is unlikely to be programmed.)

💸 Fees & Support

All selected artists are paid, with travel, food, and accommodation covered.
Applicants will be asked to provide a fee quote.

Find out more and apply

🌍 Who Can Apply?

• Open to artists worldwide

• The festival particularly welcomes applications from:

  • Disabled artists

  • Global Majority artists

  • Artists from working-class backgrounds

If applying from outside Europe, consider seeking local touring or mobility funding, as international travel budgets may be limited.

🎬 Additional Notes

This call is for the puppetry theatre festival only.
Film festival submissions will open separately at a later date.

Find out more and apply

Image: “Arachnobot” by Tim Davies Design, Newcastle Puppetry Festival 2024 (Photo: Von Fox Promotions)

We’ll continue sharing opportunities like this from across the puppetry and visual theatre world — stay tuned.

Find out more and apply

“All the boring stuff to get your work out there and booked!”

Interested in making your own work? Have a great show but need support to get it on the road? Thinking about becoming a self-employed creative? Nuts and Bolts is a volunteer-led artist network offering guidance and support to freelance artists and small companies who are interested in producing their own work. This network is suitable for theatre and outdoor arts emerging creatives, producers and makers looking to broaden their work across wider sectors.

The Nuts and Bolts Lounge

Monthly, free, online informal open guidance sessions — giving you the opportunity to ask questions, pick up insider tips, expand your network and gain support. Hosted by volunteer producers and artists, the lounge is a regular meet-up covering the practical, non-artistic side of making your own work: from the glamour of a good spreadsheet to the realities of getting work programmed and being on the road.

The lounge is not focused on the artistic process — it’s about the nuts and bolts of running a creative practice. There are a few ground rules for joining:

• This is not a space to advertise your work to others — please keep questions brief and to the point.

• Share the network with other creatives, but keep invites relevant.

• Be respectful and kind. That’s pretty much it!

Artists and producers supporting the network are giving their time freely. Please don’t expect anything outside of the lounge — though 1:1 conversations can be requested directly with artists at their discretion.

Upcoming Sessions — Save the Dates

Session 2
4 August 2026
7:00 – 8:00pm

Before you start…
What to think about before you make anything. Looking at viability and sustainability, and building good foundations for your work.

Join here

Session 3
1 September 2026
7:00 – 8:00pm
What is rural touring?

Making work for rural and community touring, getting to know audiences and potential opportunities. With guest speaker Sally Lampitt, Programme Lead and Deputy Director at Applause Rural Touring.

Join here

Session 4
6 October 2026
7:00 – 8:00pm
Good planning and staying organised

Systems and structures for smooth running — tips and planning processes to keep you organised and stress-free.

Join here

How to join

No login required — just click the link and you’ll be taken straight to the open lounge. Please mute your mic on arrival and turn off your video if you’d prefer not to be recorded.

Join here

Join the lounge here: nutsandboltslounge@gmail.com

We’re always looking to find out what’s most helpful — let us know in the lounge what topics would be useful for future sessions, or fill in our survey below. We’re not claiming to be oracles of the arts, but we’ll do our best to bring the right person into the room for any topic you throw at us.

If you’re interested in supporting Nuts and Bolts — as a ‘show and tell’ artist, or by offering guidance and hosting sessions — please get in touch at nutsandboltslounge@gmail.com.

Have a topic idea? Let us know via the ‘What do you want to know’ survey.

Nuts and Bolts is supported by Applause Rural Touring as part of their Small Scale Touring Artists Development Programme. BrUNIMA is a proud supporter of Nuts and Bolts.

Towards Sustainability in the Arts Space

Trwco 2026 — a gathering for anyone who runs, manages, programmes, tours to, or cares about theatre and cultural spaces.

We at British UNIMA are delighted to share news of Trwco 2026, hosted by our friends at Small World Theatre in Cardigan, west Wales. Small World Theatre is one of the UK’s leading near-zero carbon arts spaces — a working model of what sustainable, community-rooted theatre can look like. Trwco is their annual gathering that brings artists, venue managers, environmental thinkers and policy makers together around ideas at the intersection of creativity, science and climate action. This year’s theme feels urgent and timely: sustainability in the arts space.

If you work in theatre or outdoor arts — as a maker, producer, venue manager or touring artist — this is a day well worth your time.

Date and time 15 May 2026, 10am – 4pm
Venue Small World Theatre, Cardigan, Ceredigion, SA43 1JY
Cost£35 (£25 concessions) — includes lunch

More info | Book Now

About Trwco

Trwco is not a typical conference. Curated and hosted by Small World Theatre’s founding directors Ann Shrosbree and Bill Hamblett, previous events have included a guided walk through temperate rainforest led by a lichenologist, exploring lichens as indicators of climate change. This year the focus turns to theatre buildings and arts spaces themselves — how they respond to the climate emergency, and what comes next.

The questions at the heart of the day are ones the whole sector is grappling with: how do our theatre buildings respond to the climate emergency? What does decarbonisation mean in practice? How can programming and content support meaningful change? And how do we move forward together?

Arts venues large and small from across Wales will come together to share challenges, exchange solutions and chart a way forward for the sector.

More info | Book Now

Guest speakers

John E McGrath — Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Factory International, and former Artistic Director of National Theatre Wales.

Claire Appleby — Head of Theatre Buildings at the Theatres Trust.

Catrin John — Interim Director for Theatre Green Book.

Grant McFarlane — Manager of Swansea Grand Theatre and Brangwyn Hall.

The panel discussion will be chaired by Jane Davidson, Chair of the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group and author of #futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country.

Further panellists include Andrew Filmer, Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Performance at Aberystwyth University, and Judith Musker Turner, Climate Action Programme Lead for the culture sector at the National Library of Wales.

More info | Book Now

More than a conference

Alongside the speakers and discussion, the day includes a locally sourced lunch, a performance of ‘Piano Phase – Between Light and Dark’ by David Pepper, and a screening of ‘Momentum’ — a creative response to the building by aerial movement artist Dr Jess Allen. There will be space for conversation, connection and collaboration throughout.

More info | Book Now

Book your place at smallworld.org.uk

British UNIMA is proud to support and share news of Trwco 2026. For more information about Small World Theatre and their work, visit smallworld.org.uk.

Events Coordinator | Producer | Programmer | Stage Manager | Production Manager
📍 West Midlands, UK
Contact Laura at Events@unima.org.uk

Laura Leech works for Black Country Touring, a touring scheme bringing theatre and dance to community venues across the Black Country in the West Midlands. She leads on programming Smethwick Puppetry Festival, which has been running annually since 2024.

Prior to working at Black Country Touring, Laura worked as a freelance stage manager, production manager and prop maker. She has previously worked with companies such as Birmingham REP, Grange Park Opera Company and Birmingham Commonwealth Games. She also works as a freelance producer for Notnow Collective based in Birmingham.

At BrUNIMA

Events coordinator. Laura supports the planning and delivery of events and is keen to hear from anyone interested in collaborating with BrUNIMA or looking for support with puppetry events, whether in person or online.

You can contact Laura at Events@unima.org.uk

Why BrUNIMA?

To learn more about international puppetry and how you can get involved!

Favourite Puppet Thing?

Exploring international puppetry and opportunities to connect with the wider puppetry community.

Deadline: 15 May 2026 | Conference: 13–15 October 2026 (Arrival: 12 October) | Bratislava, Slovakia

British UNIMA is pleased to share an open call for contributions to Puppetry and Multimedia 2, an international conference hosted by the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava – Theatre Academy, Department of Puppetry.

Taking place in a small cinema in the centre of Bratislava, this gathering brings together artists, researchers, and practitioners exploring the evolving relationship between puppetry and multimedia performance.

The conference is organised in collaboration with:

• KEGA – Cultural and Educational Agency of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth

• UNIMA International – Commission for Professional Training and Research

Research Focus

Contributions are invited on topics including:

• Intermedia puppetry practice in theatre

• The role and practice of actors in intermedia and multimedia performances

• Directing practices in intermedia and multimedia contexts

• How technique influences contemporary puppetry

• Live puppet cinema at the intersection of theatre and film aesthetics

Participation Details

• Conference dates: 13–15 October 2026

• Arrival day: 12 October 2026

• Location: Bratislava, Slovakia

• Languages: English, Slovak, Czech

• Presentation length: 15–20 minutes

• Venue: Small cinema in central Bratislava

• Technical support: Full equipment provided

Call for Abstracts

You are warmly invited to submit an abstract of approximately 220 words.

• Submission deadline: 15 May 2026

• Email submissions to: ida.hledikova@gmail.com

Further Context

This conference forms part of the Year of Puppetry project, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the inscription of Czech and Slovak puppetry on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

More info

https://rokloutkovehodivadla.cz/

The UNIMA Commission for Training and Research would like to invite applications for a Practice as Research Residency to take place in Abidjan in November 2026. This initiative forms part of the priorities of the Commission to facilitate and enable research undertaken through practice as part of its 2025 – 2029 programme of work.

Puppeteers, scholars and practitioners engaged in research to further and extend research questions about puppetry, object theatre and related forms are cordially invited to send in proposals to spend two – three weeks in Abidjan to develop a practical research project. We are seeking funds to support travel but at this point recipients may need to fund their own travel or seek their own mobility funding for this.

The residency will cover: accommodation, space, materials and mentoring in Abidjan. Local arrangements will be managed by Ivoire Marionnettes and the Commission will be involved in selecting the applicant. The residency can begin from 01.11.26 or any date after that before 08.11.26. It is expected that the residency will last a minimum of two weeks. The recipient of the residency is invited to stay during the RIMA Festival (Abatta international Puppet Festival) in Abidjan and, if appropriate, to share their work at a forum within the festival.

You will be hosted in a local homestay, with space provided at Ivoire Marionnettes. You may develop a research project through practice on any theme providing that it is linked to puppetry object theatre and related forms.

Apply

To apply, please send a proposal to training-research@unima.org by 31.08.26. The proposal should include the following information:

A 300 – 500 research proposal, which identifies your research questions and enquiry, the methodology that you are using to develop the research (this must be through practice) and the rationale for carrying out this research.

A 200 – word biography

We look forward to receiving your proposals!

The UNIMA Commission for Training and Research

UNIMA Georgia is pleased to announce the first Georgian Puppet Theatre Showcase, taking place from 5 to 7 June 2026 in Tbilisi.

Georgia is home to a vibrant and diverse puppet theatre landscape, including 7 state puppet theatres, approximately 5 private companies, numerous puppet initiatives within drama theatres, and a growing number of independent artists and experimental projects. The country offers a rich mix of work for children and adult audiences, spanning traditional puppetry, marionettes, hand shadows, object theatre, and experimental forms.

This inaugural showcase aims to bring together international festival directors, programmers, producers, and cultural partners interested in collaboration, co-productions, exchange, and long-term networking within the field of contemporary puppetry.

Download the application here

What to expect

• Curated selection of Georgian puppet theatre performances

• Networking opportunities with local and international professionals

• Focus on collaboration, touring, and co-production possibilities

• Exposure to both traditional and experimental puppetry practices
  

  Download the application here

Participation & support

A limited number of international guests will be selected through application.

Selected participants will receive:

• Accommodation (5–7 June 2026)

• Meals during the programme

• Local transportation

• Free access to all showcase events

Please note: places are limited and selection is competitive.

Application deadline

20 April 2026

Download the application here

Organisers

• UNIMA Georgia

• In close cooperation with the ITI Georgian Centre and the Georgian Puppet Theatre Union

Artistic Director: Nikoloz Sabashvili
Programme Curator & Producer: Dr. Levan Khetaguri

Apply / Contact

For applications and enquiries:
📧 unimageorgia@gmail.com

We warmly invite the international puppetry community to join us in Tbilisi for this first edition and to help shape future collaborations and artistic exchange in the region.

Young People’s Puppet Theatre Co-Founder • Educator • Puppeteer
🌐 Website: www.yppt.org.uk
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youthpuppetsuk/
📘 Facebook: @YouthPuppetsUK

🎭 About Caitlin

Caitlin Duschenes is co-founder of the Young People’s Puppet Theatre (YPPT), an educational charity bringing large-scale marionette productions into schools across South East England. Rooted in a rich family legacy of puppetry, Caitlin’s work blends tradition, education, and collaboration—empowering thousands of young people to create and perform their own shows.

Her journey into puppetry isn’t just personal—it’s generational.

Beginning in 1920s Hamburg, Caitlin’s great-grandparents built a marionette theatre in their living room, performing for their local community. Despite being forced to leave Germany in the 1930s, the family’s connection to puppetry endured. Her grandfather Mario continued the tradition in Switzerland, staging Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale with marionettes in 1947.

That same production has echoed through the generations—revived multiple times by Caitlin’s father, Jeremy, and now forming a cornerstone of YPPT’s work today.

🧵 The Birth of YPPT

In the late 1990s, Jeremy Duschenes began running school-based puppet projects where children designed and built their own marionettes—an experience that left a lasting impact on students and teachers alike.

In 2014, inspired by the memory of those projects (and their unexpected social impact—including resolving classroom bullying), he revisited the idea on a larger scale.

Soon after, Caitlin joined him—and Young People’s Puppet Theatre was born.

Since 2015, YPPT has delivered:

• 🎭 155 productions

• 👧 5,000+ children engaged

• 🏫 Projects across schools throughout South East England

🎨 What Caitlin Creates

Caitlin has led around 50 YPPT projects, helping refine a unique model that balances creative freedom with scalable production.

Each project unfolds over the course of a year:

Puppet Making

Children design and build their own marionettes:

• Standardised wooden body structures ensure durability and movement

• Entirely child-designed heads, hands, feet, and costumes

• Every visible element is uniquely created by the student

🎨 Set Design

Students collaborate to create:

• Painted backdrop canvases

• Props

• Traditional “box-style” staging that allows large-scale participation

🎭 Performance

Each class becomes a full production team:

• Puppeteers

• Voice actors

• Stage crew

• Lighting & sound

• A student Stage Manager

The productions are impressively technical, with a custom-built sliding stage system allowing complex scene changes in seconds.

With professional-grade touring stages (designed by Brilliant Stages / Production Park), school halls are transformed into fully realised theatres—raising both the stakes and the students’ ambitions.

❤️ Why It Matters

For Caitlin, the most powerful moments happen backstage:

Watching children collaborate, grow in confidence, and exceed their own expectations—whether that’s a quiet student finding their voice or a struggling child learning teamwork.

The result?
Beaming faces, proud families, and transformative experiences that extend far beyond the stage.

🌟 Inspiration

Marionettes are at the heart of Caitlin’s practice:

“Marionettes all the way—it’s what I’ve grown up with.”

Their complexity—often a barrier in professional contexts—becomes a strength in YPPT’s large-scale, collaborative model.

Her enduring inspiration is The Soldier’s Tale, a production deeply woven into her family’s history and artistic identity.

Performed across generations (1947, 1968, 1974, 1980, 2014, 2025—and soon 2026), it continues to challenge and inspire with its intricate staging—including the remarkable feat of a violin being passed and “played” between puppets.

🎉 Fun Fact

Outside puppetry, Caitlin is an accomplished dancer:
💃 She competes in Ballroom and Latin
🏆 And has represented England at the World Latin Formation Championships

🎬 Favourite Performances

• 🎭 The Magic Flute — Salzburger Marionettentheater

• 🐾 My Neighbour Totoro (West End) — particularly its innovative use of scale on stage

✨ Three Words That Sum Up Caitlin’s Practice

Legacy. Inspiring. Future.

🤝 Why She Supports British UNIMA

As a new member, Caitlin values the connection UNIMA provides:

Puppetry is often misunderstood as niche or purely for children—but organisations like British UNIMA bring together practitioners who understand its depth, complexity, and cultural importance.

🌟 Inspired? Be featured next.

Our Spotlight Series appears on the British UNIMA website, social media, and is signposted through a newsletter read by 500–1,000+ people every month, with 224k views on social media in the last 30 days.

If you’re a paid British UNIMA Member, we’d love to highlight your work too.

View Spotlight Series

More info

British UNIMA is pleased to share, on behalf of UNIMA Italy, an important international opportunity supporting the next generation of puppetry and visual theatre artists.

The “Figures of the Future – Mario Mirabassi Award” has been established to champion emerging voices in contemporary puppetry. Named in honour of Mario Mirabassi, a key figure in the development and dissemination of puppetry as an art form, the award continues his legacy by fostering innovation, experimentation, and international exchange.

This initiative forms part of the 29th International Festival of Animated Figures, taking place from 27–30 August 2026—a long-standing and respected event that serves as a vital meeting point for artists, practitioners, and audiences from across the global puppetry community.

🌍 About the Award

The award is designed to support and elevate young international artists working in puppetry and related visual forms, including:

• Marionette and puppet theatre

• Object theatre

• Shadow theatre

• Visual and hybrid animation forms

It aims to:

• Encourage new artistic research and contemporary practices

• Support the creation and touring of new work

• Foster dialogue between tradition and innovation

• Create opportunities for exchange between emerging artists and established professionals

🎭 Who Can Apply

The call is open to:

• Individual artists

• Companies

• Theatre collectives

Applicants must:

• Be under 35 years old (or, for companies, the majority of members must meet this requirement)

• Present a work that is completed or in an advanced stage of development

• Be available to perform live during the festival dates

✨ What Selected Artists Receive

An artistic committee will select four finalist performances, which will be presented at the festival.

Selected participants will benefit from:

• A performance platform at an international festival

• Visibility among programmers, peers, and audiences

• Opportunities for networking and professional exchange

• Hospitality during the festival period (as arranged by organisers)

From these finalists, one will receive the Mario Mirabassi Award, which includes:

• A commemorative prize for Best Performance

• Inclusion in the next season of Teatro di Figura Perugia

The award ceremony will take place on 30 August 2026, at the close of the festival.

📩 How to Apply

To apply, candidates must submit:

1. A completed performance presentation form (including concept, techniques, credits, and details)

2. A video recording (full performance or significant excerpt)

3. A short artistic CV

🗓 Deadline: 2 May 2026
📧 Submit applications to: info@tieffeu.com

🔗 Full call details and application forms are available here:
https://www.tieffeu.com/news/

📣 A Call to Share

British UNIMA warmly encourages members, partners, and the wider performing arts community to share this opportunity widely. Supporting emerging artists is vital to the continued evolution of puppetry and visual theatre, and this initiative offers a meaningful platform for new work to be seen and celebrated internationally.

For further information, please refer to the official materials or contact the organisers directly.

We look forward to seeing the next generation of artists shape the future of this dynamic and evolving art form.

#UNIMA #BritishUNIMA #Puppetry #VisualTheatre #OpenCall #EmergingArtists #PerformingArts

Before we jump in, a huge thank you to everyone who attended events, shared work, and celebrated World Puppetry Day with us, also, if you missed the fantastic talk by Sue Buckmaster, you can catch up here.

This month also marks a special milestone, one year of the NEW BrUNIMA website. In that time, our mailing list has grown from 100 to nearly 800, and our membership has almost doubled. Your continued support directly enables our scholarships, events, and growing programme of activity throughout the year.

We are also delighted to introduce Liza, this year’s BrUNIMA Scholarship recipient, made possible through your membership and support.

And don’t forget: this newsletter is packed with courses, festivals, residencies, open calls, and ways to get involved. If you have something to share, or would like a spotlight page as a paid member, visit the Members Hub and fill in the form.

🌟 BrUNIMA 2026 Scholarship Winner: Liza
We are delighted to announce the winner of the BrUNIMA 2026 Scholarship is Liza. Here, she shares her story:

I was so surprised and absolutely delighted to find out that I had been selected to receive the BRUNIMA 2026 scholarship for the PuppetSoup Teatro de Lambe Lambe course! A decade as a foster carer came to a very happy end for me in 2024 when I adopted my daughter, and now that she is starting school, I really wanted to focus on my creative skills.

This scholarship has given me that opportunity, which I wouldn’t otherwise have had, and I am so grateful. I have always been fascinated by miniature worlds, and creating a little box of magic for people from all walks of life to enjoy is just a dream come true for me. I can’t wait!

BrUNIMA Event

Animating the Small
📅 Saturday 9 May 2026 at 1pm

Animating Forms of Theatre and Lambe Lambe Theatre: artistic journeys and creative residencies
👉 More info

Other Events & Opportunities

Webinar Series: Conserving, Archiving & Exhibiting Puppets – Session: Puppet Conservation and Preservation
📅 April 11, 2026 – 4:00 PM CET | 🌐 Online
👉 More info

Spring Courses with Moving Parts Arts
🗓6 - 11 April
👉 More info

7-day Marionette Making Course with Stephen Mottram
🗓7–13 April 2026 · Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne
👉More info

Puppet Building Office Hours with Alex Vernon
🗓Sunday, April 12th at 2pm est via Zoom
👉 More info

Call for contributions & Save the Date – Kasper & Friends go UNESCO
🗓A short Zoom information session will take place on April 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM (CET) 13 April 2026
👉More info

Call for applications – 31st Rijeka Puppet Theatre Review, Croatia
The 31st Puppet Theatre Review will be held from November 3rd to 10th, 2026 in Rijeka, Croatia . Professional theatres, artistic organizations, and registered theatre associations are invited to submit their shows for selection to the Festival.
🗓Applications due by April 17, 2026
👉 More info

Little Angel Theatre ADULT courses from 18 April
👉More info

1st Georgian Puppet Theatre Showcase
DEADLINE 20 APRIL 2026
Event - 5–7 June 2026 | Tbilisi, Georgia
More info

Equity's Puppeteer's Network
🗓20 April, 2pm, in person in London or 🌐 Online.
Email puppeteers@equity.org.uk if you'd like to know more about the network or come along.
More info

Online Puppet Makers session with Kathleen Yore - Odd Doll
📅21st April 2026
🕐12.30 - 2pm
More info and book your free space

UNIMA Online session: Audience development methods in the context of international puppet theatre festivals
📅 21 April 2026 🕐 Time: 14:30 CET
🌐 Language: English ⏱️ Duration: Approx. 120 minutes
More info

Webinar: Applied Puppetry: Critical Thinking and Action for Peace
📅 22 April 2026 🕐 Time: 15:00 CET
📺 Watch Live: UNIMA’s Youtube channel 🌐 Online
✉️ Register: appliedpuppetry@unima.org
👉 More info

Exchange with the Madrid Puppet Centre School and virtual meetings offered by the UNIMA Professional Training and Research Commission
🗓First meeting: April 22, 2026, 10:00 PM CET | 🌐 Online
👉More info

ERASMUS+ Exchange at ESNAM – National Higher School of Puppet Arts
📍 Charleville-Mézières, France
The National Higher School of Puppet Arts – ESNAM welcomes students from European higher education institutions through the ERASMUS+ exchange programme.
📅 Application deadlines
• 30 April – September–January semester
• 30 October – February–June semester
👉 More info

📢 CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS AND HOSTS - Festival Orbis Pictus
🎭 Want to discover behind the scenes of a puppet festival and live a unique human adventure?
📍 Reims France
Are you available between 19-24 May 2026?
Infos & inscriptions, Margaux – contact@lejardinparallele.fr 📞 06 58 17 99 75

The Soldier’s Tale - marionette course for ages 16+ with Young People’s Puppet Theatre
📅1-4 May 2026
📍 Young People’s Puppet Theatre, St Albans, AL4 0JQ
👉More info: www.yppt.org.uk/soldiers-tale
There are also public tickets available for the final performance here

ESNAM International Puppet Centre – Residency Programme 2026–2027
📍 Charleville-Mézières, France
📅 Application deadline 3 May 2026
👉 More info

Powerhouse Pro: Giant Puppetry with Autin Dance Theatre
📍 The Powerhouse, Coventry
🗓 Mon 18 May 2026 | 10am–5pm
💷 £50
More info and Book Now

A Grim Day Out/The Crossing Place
📅20^th May 2026, St Albans Cathedral
Two marionette shows about the history of St Albans, presented in the stunning setting of St Albans Cathedral.
Tickets available here:
👉6.30pm, More info and Book Now for A Grim Day Out
👉7.45pm, More info and Book Now for The Crossing Place
Young People’s Puppet Theatre are also offering two free shows for schools that day - if any schools are interested in attending, they should contact YPPT directly via www.yppt.org.uk

Bristol Experimental Puppet Festival 2026
📅5-14 June 2026
📍All over Bristol
👉More info

Puppetry Residency in Greece
📅 Application deadlines 9 July 2026
👉 More info

Aladdin - marionette summer camp for ages 8-12 with Young People’s Puppet Theatre
📅27-31 July 2026
📍 St Albans, AL4 0JQ
👉 More info
Early bird price available until 15 April

Fairy Tales Exhibition Coming To The British Library This Spring
Thrilled to announce that The Little Angel Theatre have some of their puppets on display at a landmark new exhibition at the British Library.
📅Now on until 23 August
📍 Fairy Tales is at the British Library.
Tickets are £13.50 (peak) and £11.50 (off-peak), with concessions available.
👉More info

OPEN CALLS

The Big One Hundred project are looking to hire Performers
🗓Application Deadline: 9am Friday 10th April
👉 More info

The 2026 Puppetry Arts Centre of Taipei Artist Residency Program
🗓Submission Deadline: 17:00 on April 24, 2026 (Friday).
👉 More info

Open Call - UNIMA Madrid launches the open call to participate in TITIRIMADROÑO – International Puppet Theatre Festival, celebrating its 17th edition in 2026.
👉 Open to companies, agents and professionals working in Puppet, Visual and Object Theatre (PVOT).
📅 Application deadline: April 30, 2026
👉 More info

Call for artists 2026 Lugano International Puppet Festival
🗓The Open Call is active until April 30th
👉 More info

4th International Theatre Festival 2026
The Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Jatiya Kabi Kazi National Islam University.
🗓 Submission Deadline: 1 May 2026
Festival Dates 4 - 11 July 2026
Email: maheditanjir@jkkniu.edu.bd
👉 More info

Figures of the Future – Mario Mirabassi Award 2026
🗓Apply by 2 May 2026 | A major international opportunity for puppetry artists and companies under 35
👉 More info

Exhibiting Puppets on 11 October 2026
🗓Deadline for submissions 15 June 2026
👉More info

OPEN CALL - Puppet Camp in Boneka
September 25 - October 11 2026
📍Indonesia
🗓Application Deadline: 4th August 2025
👉 info and apply

Charleville-Mézières World Puppet Theatre Festival – Programming Update
The Charleville-Mézières World Puppet Theatre Festival will no longer run its traditional open call for show submissions starting with the 2027 edition.
Artists wishing to share work with the programming team can send materials to:
📧 programmation2027@marionnette.com
The festival programme focuses primarily on new works created within the previous two years, presenting an international snapshot of contemporary puppetry.
👉 More info

📢 Open Call for Museums & Collections
Questionnaire for the Directory of Puppet Museums and Puppet Collections
🎭 Organized by: UNIMA International Heritage Commission
📝 Complete the questionnaire: Fill out the form
✉️ Contact: heritage@unima.org

Supporting British UNIMA

We’re thrilled to have reached over 200 paid members of BrUNIMA, a wonderful milestone for our community. Thank you to everyone who has chosen to support the organisation and help strengthen the puppetry network in the UK.

If you’re able to support us, we’re grateful for help in any form:

• sharing opportunities and information we can add to our website, notebook, and social media
• getting involved as a volunteer. We’re always keen to hear from people interested in writing newsletters, reviewing shows, interviewing artists, or developing their social media and editorial skills
• making a donation to support our Penny Francis campaign
• upgrading to a paid membership, referring a friend, becoming a Friend, or even gifting a membership to someone else

Members who joined before April 2025 will receive a notification in the coming weeks as we complete the transition to our new membership platform. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact membership@brunima.org.uk.

Whether or not you’re in a position to upgrade right now, please know that we value all our readers and community members. Your presence, engagement, and sharing make a real difference.

Warm wishes,
British UNIMA

Give a gift subscription

We’re delighted to welcome Gabriela Céspedes and David Duffy for a live talk followed by an inside look at a working Lambe Lambe theatre workshop.

🗓DAY: Saturday 9 May 2026
🗓Time: 1:00 PM (talk begins)
🎭 Format: Talk + live workshop demonstration (in-person and live streamed event)
Location: PuppetSoup Canalside Studio, 243 Ealing Rd, London, Wembley HA0 1QL (5 min from Alperton Station on the Piccadilly line).
The event will also be live streamed online.
Tickets: Free event for BrUNIMA members only.

In person tickets are limited in numbers so to avoid disappointment book a place by emailing: info@puppetsoup.com

A link to the live stream of the talk will be available to BrUNIMA members in advance of the event. The live stream will be hosted via Zoom.

View the live stream via zoom on the day

For those who can’t make it, members of BrUNIMA can watch a recorded version of the talk via the website at a later date.

About the Event

This session opens with a conversation between two leading practitioners in puppetry and visual theatre, tracing their artistic journeys across continents, disciplines, and decades of practice.

Following the talk, we’ll move into a live feed from the workshop, where participants are developing their own Lambe Lambe theatre pieces under Gabriela’s guidance. The session will include:

• Demonstrations of miniature theatres and puppets

• Insights into creative processes and residencies

• A closer look at lighting design for small-scale performance

Gabriela Céspedes

Gabriela Céspedes is a multidisciplinary artist with over 35 years of experience as an actress, puppeteer, director, cultural manager, and educator. An international benchmark in Lambe Lambe Theatre, she has toured across the Americas and Europe with emblematic works such as Gato Negro and Bladimir.

She has directed and participated in Iberescena projects in Brazil and Paraguay, and coordinated the first Diploma in Puppet and Object Theatre (UNCAUS). Among her honors, the Javier Villafañe National Award for lifetime achievement stands out.

Currently, she leads the group Gabriela, clavo y canela, continuing her deep research into the language of animated forms.

The live session is part of PuppetSoup’s Canalside Puppet Making Workshop with Gaby as part of this course.

The Canalside Puppet Making Course London 2026

A unique Teatro Lambe Lambe puppetry Course in London.

In Partnership with The Puppet Theatre Barge and hosted both at our canalside puppet making workshops and on the iconic Barge itself!

Join us on a fascinating journey of puppetry exploration and learn how to build and perform a fully working Teatro Lambe Lambe from your own design!

More info and Book

David Duffy

David Duffy has worked in lighting since 1999 and in puppetry since 2007.

He was a core member and resident lighting designer at Little Angel Theatre for 10 years, and has collaborated with Theatre Peckham, Polka Theatre, and Stuff + Nonsense. He also served as a producer for the National Theatre’s production of Hamlet, and contributed to the award-winning puppetry venue Well Walk Theatre.

David is production manager for the Hvammstangi International Puppetry Festival in Iceland, where his site-specific collaboration with Kneehigh won the Jury Prize for Excellence. He is also lighting designer for Old Trout Puppet Workshop’s Famous Puppet Death Scenes, which has toured internationally.

He has delivered talks across the UK, Europe, and the Americas, and is currently writing a book for Routledge on lighting design for puppet theatre.

In 2025, he was awarded an Arts Council Developing Your Creative Practice grant to study Teatro de Lambe Lambe, culminating in a residency at La Nini, Gabriela Céspedes’ artists’ residency in the Andes.

We look forward to welcoming you into this intimate exploration of scale, storytelling, and the art of animating the small.

British UNIMA – World Puppetry Day Events

Within British UNIMA, we are hosting and co-hosting a series of online events for World Puppetry Day 2026.

🗓 21 March 2026
🕓 16:00–16:20 (UK time)
Welcome to UNIMA — two special presentations for World Puppetry Day by Liz Lempen (Lempen Puppets) and Sue Buckmaster (Theatre Rites).

🕓 16:20–16:45 (UK time)
Beth Timmins (BBC) will speak about Ukrainian puppetry during wartime, exploring how puppetry continues to support storytelling and cultural expression in difficult circumstances.

Beth Timmins is a doctoral researcher in Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Oxford, where her DPhil has examined how communities remember conflict through local stories and artistic practice. She previously completed an MSc and BA in Visual Anthropology and Archaeology at Oxford, specialising in oral history and the impacts of looting on cultural heritage. A practising artist, she integrates ethnographic drawing into her research.

You can join these presentations via the button below

Join via Zoom here

ALSO ON WORLD PUPPETRY DAY

Dear British UNIMA Members and Friends,
March is the month in which we celebrate World Puppetry Day. In a world marked with strife and conflict, activities designed to bring people together through the arts are always welcome. Our activities continue with a series of events on world puppetry day itself - see below for more details.

UNIMA International is hosting a 24 - hour drop in friendship café for all UNIMA members - anyone is welcome to drop in, meet other puppeteers or puppetry enthusiasts, exchange ideas and find out information. The friendship café will be hosted by the Executive Committee throughout the 24 hours, highlighting that UNIMA is a global organisation focused on linking people across the world and promoting the art of puppetry.

More Info

The person chosen to deliver the UNIMA message for World Puppetry Day this year is the Master Malian puppeteer Yaya Coulibaly.

More Info

There will be other activities throughout the day on World Puppetry Day; see the UNIMA International website for information: www.unima.org

British UNIMA – World Puppetry Day Events

Within British UNIMA, we are hosting and co-hosting a series of online events for World Puppetry Day 2026.

🗓 21 March 2026
🕓 16:00–16:20 (UK time)
Welcome to UNIMA — two special presentations for World Puppetry Day by Liz Lempen (Lempen Puppets) and Sue Buckmaster (Theatre Rites).

🕓 16:20–16:45 (UK time)
Beth Timmins (BBC) will speak about Ukrainian puppetry during wartime, exploring how puppetry continues to support storytelling and cultural expression in difficult circumstances.

More Info and Join via ZOOM

16h45 - 17h30 British UNIMA members are invited to join the Nuts and Bolts session - see below!

More info and Join Nuts and Bolts

We’re also inviting you to start sharing your celebrations and the official materials across your networks!

How to take part:

✔ Share your events and activities
✔ Tag @britishunima and @unimainternational
✔ Use #WPD2026 #UNIMA
✔ Add #WorldPuppetryDay2026

UNIMA will reshare posts on 21 March and compile a global video celebrating activity worldwide.

ForesTEEN – Online Open Stage Festival

📅 24 March 2026
🕕 18:00 CET (17:00 UK time)
📍 Online (Zoom)

ForesTEEN is hosting a new Online Open Stage Festival, a digital meeting space where teenagers and young adults (ages 14–27) from across Europe can share their artistic ideas, performances and inspirations.

The event offers an opportunity for young artists to present work and connect internationally, while cultural professionals can observe emerging trends and engage with new voices in youth arts.

More Info

Young people aged 15–25 may also be interested in the ForesTEEN EU Passport, which supports travel to partner festivals across Europe by reimbursing travel costs, with accommodation provided by the host festival.

More info

Other Events & Opportunities

The 2026 Méliscènes Festival returns to the town of Auray and surrounding communities in Brittany from 7–21 March 2026.
📅 Now on until 21 March 2026
🔗More info

ESNAM International Puppet Centre – Residency Programme 2026–2027
📍 Charleville-Mézières, France
📅 Applications open 9 March – 3 May 2026
👉 More info

Tit For Tat 𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟: Touring & Development
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁: A Call To Artists
This is a free professional workshop, to widen our pool of known performers.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Tit for Tat, Cato Street, Easton, BS5 6JL
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Thursday 12th March or Saturday 14th March (vote!)
🔗More info

Artist Development 2026
Programmes for disabled creatives, and applications
📅 Deadline Friday 13 March at 5pm
🔗More info

Autin Dance Theatre one-day professional training in multi-operator giant puppetry.
🗓 Wed 25 Mar 2026, 10:00am–5:00pm
(Studio open from 9:30am for individual warm-up)
Location: Our home, The Daimler Powerhouse, Sandy Lane Business Park, Sandy Lane, Coventry, CV1 4DQ
🔗More info

Jimmy Grimes - Puppetry Performance Workshop (Online)
🗓 24th, 26th & 28th March afternoons and evenings
🗓 31st March, 2nd & 4th April afternoons and evenings
🕓 4:00–5:30pm 💻 online
👉 More info

All-Ukrainian online festival “Premieres of a season” 2026 Broadcasts
📅Every Saturday and Sunday until March 15, 2026 at 16:00 (EET).
📺 Watch on YouTube: UNIMA-UKRAINE YouTube Channel

Work Experience at Plunge: A Hands-On Dive Into Creative Magic
📅 Applications for our 2026 programme are now open!
Placements run from May to September 2026 and are generally for 1 to 2 weeks.
To apply, please complete this application form.

Nuts & Bolts Lounge — World Puppetry Day Special
🗓 Saturday 21 March 2026
🕓 4:00–5:30pm
💻 Free & online
👉 More info

Strings Attached The Art of Puppetry in Ditchling
Ditchling Museum, East Sussex, BN6 8SP.
🗓Saturday 28 March – Sunday 27 September 2026
👉 More info

Moving Parts Arts - Animator & Puppet Filmmakers Mixer Social
🗓Tuesday 1 April 2026
👉 More info

Spring Courses with Moving Parts Arts
🗓6 - 11 April
👉 More info

7-day Marionette Making Course with Stephen Mottram
🗓7–13 April 2026 · Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne
👉More info

Puppet Building Office Hours with Alex Vernon
🗓Sunday, April 12th at 2pm est via Zoom
👉 More info

UNIMA Online session: Audience development methods in the context of international puppet theatre festivals
📅 21 April 2026 🕐 Time: 14:30 CET
🌐 Language: English ⏱️ Duration: Approx. 120 minutes
More info

Webinar: Applied Puppetry: Critical Thinking and Action for Peace
📅 22 April 2026 🕐 Time: 15:00 CET
📺 Watch Live: UNIMA’s Youtube channel
✉️ Register: appliedpuppetry@unima.org
👉 More info

ERASMUS+ Exchange at ESNAM – National Higher School of Puppet Arts
📍 Charleville-Mézières, France
The National Higher School of Puppet Arts – ESNAM welcomes students from European higher education institutions through the ERASMUS+ exchange programme.
📅 Application deadlines
• 30 April – September–January semester
• 30 October – February–June semester
👉 More info

Puppetry Residency in Greece
📅 Application deadlines 9 July 2026
👉 More info

OPEN CALLS

Toyooka Theater Festival 2026 · Fringe Open Call
Toyooka, Japan · September 18-27, 2026
⏰ Deadline: April 1, 2026 · 9:00 AM JST
🔗 toyooka-theaterfestival.jp/fringe-opencall2026
📩 fringe@toyooka-theaterfestival.jp

The Big One Hundred project are looking to hire Performers
🗓Application Deadline: 9am Friday 10th April
👉 More info

Call for artists 2026 Lugano International Puppet Festival
🗓The Open Call is active from March 1st to April 30th
👉 More info

4th International Theatre Festival 2026
The Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Jatiya Kabi Kazi National Islam University.
🗓 Submission Deadline: 1 May 2026
Festival Dates 4 - 11 July 2026
Email: maheditanjir@jkkniu.edu.bd
👉 More info

Exhibiting Puppets on 11 October 2026
🗓Deadline for submissions 15 June 2026
👉More info

Charleville-Mézières World Puppet Theatre Festival – Programming Update
The Charleville-Mézières World Puppet Theatre Festival will no longer run its traditional open call for show submissions starting with the 2027 edition.
Artists wishing to share work with the programming team can send materials to:
📧 programmation2027@marionnette.com
The festival programme focuses primarily on new works created within the previous two years, presenting an international snapshot of contemporary puppetry.
👉 More info

📢 Open Call for Museums & Collections
Questionnaire for the Directory of Puppet Museums and Puppet Collections
🎭 Organized by: UNIMA International Heritage Commission
📝 Complete the questionnaire: Fill out the form
✉️ Contact: heritage@unima.org

Supporting British UNIMA

We’re thrilled to have reached over 200 paid members of BrUNIMA, a wonderful milestone for our community. Thank you to everyone who has chosen to support the organisation and help strengthen the puppetry network in the UK.

If you’re able to support us, we’re grateful for help in any form:

• sharing opportunities and information we can add to our website, notebook, and social media
• getting involved as a volunteer. We’re always keen to hear from people interested in writing newsletters, reviewing shows, interviewing artists, or developing their social media and editorial skills
• making a donation to support our Penny Francis campaign
• upgrading to a paid membership, referring a friend, becoming a Friend, or even gifting a membership to someone else

Members who joined before April 2025 will receive a notification in the coming weeks as we complete the transition to our new membership platform. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact membership@brunima.org.uk.

Whether or not you’re in a position to upgrade right now, please know that we value all our readers and community members. Your presence, engagement, and sharing make a real difference.

Warm wishes,
British UNIMA

A rare and heartfelt exhibition celebrating the work of master puppeteer John Wilson

British UNIMA is delighted to share news of a special exhibition honouring the life and work of John Wilson, founder of Spring Onion Puppet Theatre.

📅 Sunday 22nd – Saturday 28th February 2026
🕙 Open daily, 10:00 – 17:00
Birdwood House, 44 High Street Totnes TQ9 5SG
📧 Contact: cariadastles@gmail.com

More info

This unique exhibition brings back into view a body of work not seen since John’s sudden passing in 2013. A master puppeteer and dedicated artist, John founded Spring Onion Puppet Theatre in the early 1990s and spent his life creating imaginative, engaging performances for audiences across Europe.

Having lived and worked in London, Galway, Totnes, and Ferrara, John’s practice was deeply shaped by travel, collaboration, and a love of storytelling that crossed borders and cultures.

More info

🎭 An Immersive Journey Through a Puppeteer’s Life

A Life with Puppets invites visitors to step inside John’s creative world.

Through a thoughtful combination of puppets, images, and music, the exhibition traces the journeys and productions that defined his career. It offers a rare opportunity to encounter these works up close — many of which have remained unseen for over a decade.

More info

✨ More Than an Exhibition

In keeping with the spirit of John’s work — playful, accessible, and deeply human — the exhibition also includes:

• Drop-in puppet-making activities

• Live demonstrations of puppetry performance

• Hands-on opportunities to interact with selected puppets

These elements create a welcoming space for visitors of all ages to engage not only with the history of the work, but with the living practice of puppetry itself.

More info

We warmly encourage anyone with an interest in puppetry — whether long-standing or newly discovered — to visit, reflect, and be inspired by this touching tribute to a life dedicated to the art form.

Founded in 2017, Moving Parts Arts has built a vibrant reputation for bringing people together through puppetry, festivals, and participatory events — engaging over 20,000 people each year. Their work is rooted in a powerful belief: that everyone can be creative, and that puppetry offers a unique, playful way to connect, collaborate, and tell stories.

This April, they’re offering a series of hands-on, small-group courses led by artist Gretchen Maynard-Hahn — each limited to just 15 participants, ensuring an intimate and supportive learning environment.

More info | Book Now

Featured Courses

🌟 Weatherproof Worbla Puppet Lantern Making

6–7 April 2026 | Ages 16+
£120 (materials included) | Paddy Freeman's Pavillion, Freeman Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 2EY, UK

Design and build your own illuminated puppet lantern over two practical, hands-on days. Participants will sculpt a character head in clay before forming it in durable thermoplastic. Bodies will be constructed from ripstop fabric, with exploration of surface treatments to create rich textures and striking finishes. A simple wood and bamboo frame mechanism will give structure and movement, and battery-powered lights will bring each creation to life. The workshop focuses on accessible construction techniques suitable for outdoor use, and may culminate in a small celebratory parade where participants animate their glowing puppets together.

More info | Book Now

Carved Marionettes for Beginners

8–9 April 2026 | Ages 16+
£120 (materials included) | Paddy Freeman’s Pavillion, Freeman Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 2EY, UK

This two-day workshop introduces participants to the charm and mechanics of Czech-style marionettes. Working from prepared lime wood blanks, attendees will learn safe, fundamental wood carving techniques using traditional hand tools. Guidance will cover shaping expressive forms, refining features, and assembling a simple but effective stringing system that allows for characterful movement. The focus is on craft and playful performance potential. By the end of the workshop, each participant will have created a small, fully functioning marionette with its own personality and a deeper understanding of traditional puppet-making methods.

More info | Book Now

🎬 Creature Clips: Stop-Motion Animation

10–11 April 2026 | Ages 11+
£95 (materials included) | Paddy Freeman’s Pavillion, Freeman Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 2EY, UK

Over two dynamic days, participants will design and build simple animation puppets inspired by animals, monsters, or hybrid creatures. Using accessible materials and straightforward construction techniques, they will create characters designed specifically for stop-motion performance. On day two, the focus shifts to film making: learning the fundamentals of frame-by-frame animation and producing a short clip using their own smartphones and a pre-downloaded animation app. The workshop introduces storytelling, movement, and visual composition in a fun, supportive environment. Each participant will leave with a completed short animation and the skills to continue creating independently.

More info | Book Now

Whether you’re a puppeteer, maker, educator, or simply curious, these workshops offer a chance to deepen your practice and connect with others in the field.

🎟️ Also Coming Up…

Moving Parts Arts’ spring programme includes a rich mix of screenings, exhibitions, and community events — from The Dark Crystal and Muppet Treasure Island screenings to exhibitions like A Treasury of Tyneside Tales and filmmaker socials at Tyneside Cinema.

🔗 Book Now

Places are limited and expected to fill quickly.

More info | Book Now

👉 https://www.movingpartsarts.com/whatson

British UNIMA is proud to champion opportunities like these — supporting learning, connection, and the continued growth of puppetry across the UK and beyond.