Our Annual General Meeting is now just over a week away, and we would love to see as many of you there as possible.

Join us online or in person on Sunday 14 June 2026 at the Puppet Barge, where the AGM will be accompanied by a festival of Lambe Lambe performance.

This is a chance to hear about British UNIMA’s activities over the past year, look ahead to our plans for the coming year, see the shows created during PuppetSoup’s Lambe Lambe course, and vote on upcoming appointments and decisions.

If you are planning to attend, make sure you RSVP as soon as possible so we can confirm numbers and make sure everything is in place. You can find the agenda, papers to read in advance, and voting information on our website.

We would be very grateful if members could join us and help support the organisation at this important annual meeting.

Congratulations to Theatre-Rites on their 30th anniversary, and to Sue Buckmaster on her award. Sue very kindly recorded a film for us during World Puppetry Day, where Sue speaks so positively about the power of puppetry, if you haven´t seen it yet, click here.

Little Angel Theatre is also celebrating its 65th anniversary with a marionette revival project.
👉 More info

We are also looking forward to sharing the next issue of Puppet Notebook, which will be available soon in both digital and printed form.

Further down, you’ll find a packed round-up of upcoming puppetry events, festivals, open calls, residencies and international opportunities — including several deadlines coming up soon.

There is genuinely something here for everyone, whether you are a maker, researcher, venue manager, teacher, student, volunteer, or someone just beginning to find your way into the field.

From BrUNIMA
AGM – Save the Date

Our Annual General Meeting will take place on Sunday 14 June 2026, and all members are warmly invited to attend either in person or online.

The AGM is an important moment in the BrUNIMA year. It is where we report back to members, share plans, vote on key matters, and shape the future direction of the organisation together.

More info and Reserve your space

Celebrating 97 years of international puppetry connection

Last month, 20 May, marks the 97th anniversary of UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) — the international organisation for puppetry arts, founded in Prague in 1929.

As the British Centre of UNIMA, we are proud to celebrate this milestone alongside colleagues, members and puppetry communities around the world.

For nearly a century, UNIMA has helped connect puppeteers, makers, performers, educators, researchers, festivals and organisations across borders, strengthening international exchange and supporting puppetry in all its forms.
UNIMA International has begun sharing early ideas for the journey toward UNIMA’s 100th anniversary in 2029, which will culminate in Prague, the city where UNIMA was founded.

Early proposals include:

• 🎭 International exhibitions and events

• 📚 Archiving and documenting puppetry histories

• 🌍 Global collaborations between National Centres

• 🎵 A call for a UNIMA Centenary Song

• 📝 Future publications and documentary projects

More info

UNIMA International – June Online Events

UNIMA International has announced its June 2026 online events, including:

Meeting with the Theatre Tandem — Veselka Kuncheva and Marieta Golomehova
📅 17 June 2026, 5.00pm CET
💻 Online
👉 Register / Read more

Latin American Festival Programmers Meeting
📅 June 2026
🌎 Latin America
💬 Spanish-language event
📍 Zoom
👉 Register / Read more

UNIMA PASSPORT PROGRAMME
Make sure to check the UNIMA passports for the upcoming 2026 festivals — there are still spots available!
👉 More info

BrUNIMA dates for the diary

Thursday 13th August 2026, 7pm
BrUNIMA Puppet Film Night
Grab your popcorn join us online for a screening of puppet films selected by BrUNIMA members.
Coming soon…

Thursday 10th September 2026, 7pm
Visual Theatre and Contemporary Puppetry: Material, Metaphor and Pedagogy
Join Sean Myatt and Yun Geng in conversation about contemporary puppetry and visual theatre as practices of material thinking, embodied performance and theatrical meaning-making.
Coming soon…

Other Events & Opportunities

Giants on the Move: A Puppet Street Parade
📅From 7 June 12.45–13.15, 15.15–15.45
👉More info

Extreme Puppet Making, Make a Puppet and Bring it to Life with Blind Summit
📅8-10 June 2026
👉More info

Extreme Puppet Training, Advanced Technique Workshop with Blind Summit
📅11-13 June 2026
👉More info

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

Skupa’s Pilsen International Festival of Puppet and Alternative Theatre 2026
📅 Festival: June 10–14, 2026
👉 More info

Nottingham Puppet Festival
Saturday 27 June - Sunday 5 July
👉More info

Online Q&A with Neil Sterenberg – British Puppet Guild
Thursday 3 July | Online
👉More info

NEW Jimmy Grimes Puppet workshops
Starting in July
👉More info

Little Angel Theatre Children’s Puppet Festival
📅28 July – 30 August 2026
👉 More info

Symposium #4 – Social Perspectives on Puppetry, Figures, and Animated Objects | Montemerano, Italy
📅 Dates: June 26–28, 2026 | 📍 Montemerano, Tuscany, Italy
👉 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

Nuts and Bolts - Before you start…
📅4 August 2026 - Online - 7:00 – 8:00pm
👉More info

Puppet Fringe Festival New York
📅12 - 16 August, Lower East Side New York City
👉More info

Bring the Inanimate to Life: A Bold Dive into Contemporary Puppetry
17–21 August 2026 | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow | £610 | Ages 16+
👉More info

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 2026
📍 Fairy Tales is at the British Library.
Tickets are £13.50 (peak) and £11.50 (off-peak), with concessions available.
👉More info

Kasper & Friends go UNESCO – Survey and Network Meeting
A new initiative, Kasper & Friends go UNESCO, is working to highlight the shared tradition of comic glove puppetry figures across Europe and explore a possible future inscription on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

The working group is inviting puppeteers, theatre practitioners, researchers and heritage specialists to contribute to an initial survey mapping existing traditions, current theatre practice, research and national heritage initiatives.

📅 Online network meeting on 15 June 2026 at 3pm
📅 Survey deadline: 30 June 2026
📝 Brief answers or keywords are welcome
📧 Contact: doku@fidena.de

There will also be an online network meeting on 15 June 2026 at 3pm CET, looking more closely at Kasper and discussing how comic figures in European glove puppetry might be defined.
👉 More info

Newcastle Puppetry Festival 2027
Prospective dates: 3rd–11th April 2027
👉 More info

OPEN CALLS

Conference “Comical Types in Puppet Theater”
The international conference will take place on June 18–19, 2026 at the Osnabrück Puppet Theater. Registration closes on 14 June.
📨The deadline for registration is 14 June 2026.
👉 More info

Open Call: SHORTIES 26/27 in Stuttgart
Short-form works from the Stuttgart area are sought for the upcoming season of the series organized by FITZ, Stuttgarter Filmwinter and PZ.
📨The deadline for applications is 15 June 2026.
👉 More info

Magdeburg Puppet Theater seeks artistic director from 2028
📨The deadline for applications is 26 June 2026.
👉 More info

32nd International Festival of Puppet Theatres and Forms “Meetings”
📨 Applications due by June 12, 2026
📅 Festival: 17-21 October 2026
👉 More info

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

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

Call for Contributions: UNIMAgazine #2
📅 Deadline: July 15, 2026 | 📍 unimagazine@unima.org
👉More info

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

📅 Application deadline 31 August 2026

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 here
✉️ Contact: heritage@unima.org

Step inside Puppet Fringe Festival New York

This documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of Puppet Fringe Festival New York, celebrating the artists, performances and community that bring this international puppetry festival to life.

Puppet Fringe Festival New York
12 - 16 August, Lower East Side New York City
More info

Thank you, as always, for your support. Whether you are a paid member, free subscriber, volunteer, contributor, or reader, your involvement helps keep British UNIMA active, connected and visible.

Warm wishes,
British UNIMA

Give a gift subscription

Celebrating 97 years of international puppetry connection

Today, 20 May, marks the 97th anniversary of UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette) — the international organisation for puppetry arts, founded in Prague in 1929.

As the British Centre of UNIMA, we are proud to celebrate this milestone alongside colleagues, members and puppetry communities around the world.

For nearly a century, UNIMA has helped connect puppeteers, makers, performers, educators, researchers, festivals and organisations across borders, strengthening international exchange and supporting puppetry in all its forms.

Here in the UK, British UNIMA is proud to contribute to that wider network through events, advocacy, international exchange, publications and conversations that support our sector and connect practitioners.

Looking toward the Centenary

UNIMA International has begun sharing early ideas for the journey toward UNIMA’s 100th anniversary in 2029, which will culminate in Prague, the city where UNIMA was founded.

Early proposals include:

• 🎭 International exhibitions and events

• 📚 Archiving and documenting puppetry histories

• 🌍 Global collaborations between National Centres

• 🎵 A call for a UNIMA Centenary Song

• 📝 Future publications and documentary projects

There are also updates regarding the 2027 Council & Extraordinary Congress in Montreal, constitutional work, and future international participation opportunities.

🎬 Watch the UNIMA Centenary Trailer

British UNIMA Members: Full UNIMA International Update

UNIMA International recently shared a more detailed anniversary communication with National Centres and councillors, including information relating to centenary planning, governance developments, participation opportunities and future international events.

British UNIMA members can read a summary / access the full communication below.

Read more

There is so much to share in this month’s newsletter. From BrUNIMA, we have news of our upcoming Annual General Meeting on 14 June, a warm welcome to our new events coordinator Laura, and — most excitingly — details of our featured event Animating the Small on 9 May, a rare and intimate gathering exploring the world of miniature theatre that has very limited in-person places for members, though it will also be streamed live online so everyone can be part of it.

In the wider puppetry community, it’s a vibrant moment too — with organisations like the British Puppet Guild celebrating an impressive 101 years, the Nottingham Puppet Festival recently announcing its 2026 line-up, and a packed programme of events unfolding across the UK and beyond, including the much-loved May Fayre on 10 May in Covent Garden, London.

We’re highlighting Trwco 2026 on 15 May at Small World Theatre in Cardigan — a gathering that feels particularly timely, bringing arts venues large and small from across Wales together to wrestle with the real questions facing our sector: how do theatre buildings respond to the climate emergency, what does decarbonisation actually mean in practice, and how do we move forward together? With speakers including John E McGrath of Factory International, Claire Appleby from the Theatres Trust, and Theatre Green Book’s Catrin John, it promises to be one of the most important conversations happening in the arts this spring. We’re also flagging the Bristol Experimental Puppet Festival (5–14 June), the SIMPOSIO gathering in Tuscany (26–28 June), and a wonderful range of workshops, residencies and summer events for artists at all stages of their practice.

For those looking beyond performance and towards research, residency and international exchange, this newsletter is full of open calls worth your attention — from a puppetry residency in Greece, to a call for papers on puppetry and multimedia in Bratislava, to a practice-as-research residency in Abidjan, and more. We’re also sharing a significant update from the Charleville-Mézières World Puppet Theatre Festival about changes to how they programme work from 2027 onwards — essential reading if you’re thinking about that festival as a destination for your work.

There is genuinely something here for everyone, whether you’re a maker, a researcher, a venue manager or someone just beginning to find their way into the field.

From BrUNIMA
AGM – Save the Date

Our Annual General Meeting will take place on 14 June 2026 and all members are warmly invited to attend.

More info and Reserve your space

Welcome, Laura

We’re delighted to welcome new committee member Laura as our events coordinator. Laura is keen to hear about any events you’d like BrUNIMA to support, share, or help develop — online or in person. Please do say hello and get in touch at events@unima.org.uk.

Featured BrUNIMA Event

Animating the Small

📅 Saturday 9 May 2026 | 1pm

Join us for a special conversation exploring the intricate and poetic world of miniature and animated theatre.

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.

🎭 Format: Talk + live workshop demonstration (in-person and live streamed)
📍 Location: PuppetSoup Canalside Studio, 243 Ealing Rd, Wembley HA0 1QL (5 min from Alperton Station, Piccadilly Line)
💻 Also streamed live via Zoom

🎟 Tickets: Free for BrUNIMA members
In-person places are limited. To book, email: info@puppetsoup.com

A live stream link will can be found via the link below.
👉 More info

UNIMA Council 2027 & Extraordinary Congress

📅 2–6 March 2027
📍 Montréal, Canada

UNIMA has officially announced that the 2027 Council and Extraordinary Congress will take place in Montréal.

This will be a significant moment for the organisation, with proposed new Statutes and Rules of Procedure to be presented for approval.

👉Members can read more about the event here

Other Events & Opportunities

Trwco 2026 — An ongoing series of events with arts and environmental performances and discussions curated by Small World Theatre and chaired by Jane Davidson
Date and time 15 May 2026, 10am – 4pm
Venue Small World Theatre, Cardigan, Ceredigion, SA43 1JY
Cost £35 (£25 concessions) — includes lunch
👉 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
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

Bognor Puppet Festival
🗓23 - 29 May 2026
More info | Book Now

SIMPOSIO - The social declinations of the use of the figure and the animated object - UNIMA Italia
🗓 Registration deadline May 26, 2026 .
📅When: From Friday, June 26 (9:30 am) to Sunday, June 28, 2026 (early afternoon).
📍Where: Montemerano (Manciano - GR).
Participation: € 40 fee Limited places
👉 REGISTRATION FORM FOR SYMPOSIUM #4

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

Glove Puppet Making Workshop 🎭
Bristol | May 31 & June 7
Join international puppet maker Anne Murray (@annemurray.art / @refugepuppets) for a hands-on 2-day workshop as part of the Bristol Experimental Puppet Festival.
👉More info Book Now

Nottingham Puppet Festival
Saturday 27 June - Sunday 5 July
👉More info

Online Q&A with Neil Sterenberg – British Puppet Guild
Thursday 3 July | Online
👉More info

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

Symposium #4 – Social Perspectives on Puppetry, Figures, and Animated Objects | Montemerano, Italy
📅 Dates: June 26–28, 2026 | 📍 Montemerano, Tuscany, Italy
👉 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

Nuts and Bolts - Before you start…
📅4 August 2026 - Online
7:00 – 8:00pm
👉More info

Bring the Inanimate to Life: A Bold Dive into Contemporary Puppetry
17–21 August 2026 | Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow | £610 | Ages 16+
👉More info

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

Visitors Program – Skupa’s Pilsen International Festival of Puppet and Alternative Theatre 2026
📅 Festival: June 10–14, 2026
📨 Applications by May 10, 2026
👉 More info

Puppetry and Multimedia 2 - Call for Papers
Deadline: 15 May 2026
Conference: 13–15 October 2026 (Arrival: 12 October) | Bratislava, Slovakia

Newcastle Puppetry Festival 2027
Prospective dates: 3rd–11th April 2027
Application deadline: Sunday 24th May 2026, 11:59pm (UK time)
👉 More info

Call for applications – 3rd edition of the “Marionnettes en Marche” Festival in Yaoundé, Cameroon
📅 Festival: July 30 – August 2, 2026
📨 Applications due by June 2, 2026
👉 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

CALL FOR APPLICANTS FOR PRACTICE AS RESEARCH RESIDENCY, ABIDJAN, NOVEMBER 2026
📅 Application deadline 31 August 2026

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

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

Our friends at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland are opening the doors this summer to a unique and intensive 5-day puppetry course designed for performers, theatre-makers, and curious creatives aged 16+ who are ready to expand their practice.

This is not a passive learning experience. It’s a deep dive into the craft.

Across five full days in August, participants will work closely with Gavin Glover—an award-winning puppeteer, director, and co-founder of the groundbreaking company FaultyOptic—to explore the technical, emotional, and expressive potential of puppetry in contemporary theatre.

More Info

Why Puppetry?

Puppetry occupies a fascinating space in performance. A puppet can walk, run, hesitate, breathe, and react. It can express emotion with startling clarity—and sometimes say far more than the performer holding it.

This course invites you to interrogate that relationship:

• Between puppet and performer

• Between performer and audience

• Between object and meaning

You’ll explore how inanimate materials can take on presence, intention, and even humour—and how that transformation can elevate storytelling.

More Info

What You’ll Explore

Each day focuses on a different core aspect of puppetry practice, gradually building towards an informal sharing of work with your peers.

Key areas include:

• Gravity and Motion — understanding weight, balance, and believable movement

• Character and Communication — developing personality, voice, and emotional clarity

• Sharing the Space — negotiating presence between puppet, performer, and environment

• Alone With Your Puppet — refining focus, connection, and subtlety

• Narrative and Design — shaping stories and exploring visual dramaturgy

Alongside practical work, there will be space for discussion, reflection, and experimentation. You’ll also take part in a project consultation session, where you can bring your own ideas into the room, test them, and receive feedback in a collaborative environment.

More Info

Skills You’ll Take Away

By the end of the course, you will:

• Build technical confidence in handling a variety of puppetry forms

• Develop a stronger understanding of physical performance and non-verbal storytelling

• Explore improvisation techniques using both voice and movement

• Gain insight into how puppetry is used across small-scale and large-scale productions

• Learn basic construction principles for designing effective stage puppets

• Feel better prepared to audition for roles requiring puppetry skills

  More Info

Meet Your Tutor: Gavin Glover

With over 30 years of experience in theatre and visual performance, Gavin Glover is one of the UK’s most distinctive voices in contemporary puppetry.

Originally trained at London’s Little Angel Theatre, Gavin went on to co-found FaultyOptic, a company celebrated for its dark, surreal, and internationally touring puppet productions, including Snuffhouse-Dustlouse, Soiled, and Tunnelvision. Their innovative work—often supported by Arts Council England and the British Council—helped redefine adult puppetry on the global stage.

Now a freelance artist, Gavin collaborates across disciplines as a director, designer, performer, and educator. He regularly leads specialist workshops (including The Darker Side of Puppetry and Micro Cinema Theatre) and has coached actors at institutions such as the National Theatre of Scotland and The Abbey Theatre, Dublin.

More Info

Course Details at a Glance

• Dates: 17–21 August 2026

• Time: Monday–Friday, 10:00am–5:00pm

• Location: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow

• Age: 16+

• Cost: £610

Each day is structured to balance intensive practical training with creative exploration, culminating in a shared presentation of work developed during the week.

Who Is This For?

This summer school is ideal for:

• Actors and performers looking to expand their physical toolkit

• Directors and makers interested in visual storytelling

• Students preparing for conservatoire or drama school auditions

• Anyone curious about how puppetry can enhance contemporary theatre practice

No extensive prior puppetry experience is required—just curiosity, openness, and a willingness to experiment.

More Info

Ready to Take Part?

Places are limited, and demand is expected to be high.

If you have questions before booking, you can contact the team directly at summerschools@rcs.ac.uk.

Otherwise—if you’re ready to explore what a puppet can do that an actor sometimes can’t—this is your invitation.

Book now and spend a week bringing the inanimate to life.

More Info

This is a chance to experience, first-hand, the kind of work your membership makes possible.

Members of the BrUNIMA team will be there to answer questions, find out more about who we are on our Meet the Team page.

Why this year is special

This year’s AGM is hosted within a BrUNIMA-supported scholarship project, highlighting the direct impact of your membership. Through your support, we are able to:

• Support artists and training opportunities

• Invest in projects like this one

• Strengthen the UK puppetry network

• Create spaces for exchange, learning, and development

This is a chance to experience, first-hand, the kind of work your membership makes possible.

Event Details

📅 Sunday 14 June 2026 📍 In person: Puppet Theatre Barge, opposite 35 Bloomfield Road, Little Venice, London W9 2PF 💻 Online: Please register via the details below

12:00–16:00 – Lambe Lambe performances around the barge (no ticket required) 16:30–17:30 – BrUNIMA AGM (ticket required, limited availability)

We recommend arriving earlier in the day to experience the performances before the meeting. Members of the BrUNIMA team will be there throughout the afternoon — find out more about who we are on our Meet the Team page.

About the AGM

The AGM is a key moment in the BrUNIMA calendar — an opportunity to come together as a community to reflect, share updates, and look ahead.

The AGM will include:

• Welcome and introductions

• Chair’s report

• Treasurer’s report

• Updates on BrUNIMA activities and supported projects

• Committee updates and developments

• 🗳️ Vote: Adopting the new BrUNIMA constitution

• 🗳️ Election: New Chair of BrUNIMA (Cariad Astles steps down after years of dedicated service — could this be you? Email chair@unima.org.uk if you’re interested)

• Questions from members

• Any other business

Who can attend

This event is open to BrUNIMA paid members. Membership supports our work and gives you a voice in shaping the organisation.

More Info | Become a Member

If you are a member and having trouble accessing the member RSVP link below, please email membership@unima.org.uk and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Book your place

🔒 Booking links for both in-person and online attendance are available below.

Read more

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.

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Warm wishes,
British UNIMA

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