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.

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🤝 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.

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🌱 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.

“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.

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.

Saturday 21 March 2026 · 4:00–5:30pm · Free online — practical touring + producing guidance, peer support, and a chance to shape future Nuts & Bolts sessions (plus the “What do you want to know?” survey)

British UNIMA is delighted to be supporting the Nuts & Bolts Artist Network and sharing this World Puppetry Day 2026 special edition of the Nuts & Bolts Lounge.

If you’re making your own work, trying to get a show booked, or thinking about becoming self-employed, Nuts & Bolts offers a friendly, practical space to ask questions and learn from others who’ve been there.

What is Nuts & Bolts?

Nuts & Bolts is a volunteer-led artist network offering guidance and support to freelance artists and small companies interested in producing and touring their own work.

It’s particularly suited to theatre and outdoor arts emerging creatives, producers, and makers looking to broaden their practice and business across wider sectors.

What is the Nuts & Bolts Lounge?

The Nuts & Bolts Lounge is a monthly, free, online, informal guidance session where you can:

• Ask practical questions and get peer support

• Pick up insider tips on touring and programming

• Expand your network and meet like-minded people

• Learn the “nuts and bolts” of getting work out there (yes — including the glamour of a good spreadsheet)

Note: The Lounge isn’t focused on the “artistic stuff” — it’s about the practical foundations that help creative work thrive.

World Puppetry Day Special — How to Join

🗓 Saturday 21 March 2026
🕓 4:00–5:30pm
💻 Free & online

Join here: https://www.enteredem.co.uk/nuts-and-bolts/

Join Here

You don’t need to create an account — just click the join/log-in button and it will take you into the open lounge.

Recording: Please mute your mic when joining, and turn off your video if you don’t want to be recorded.

A few simple Lounge rules

To keep the space useful and welcoming:

• This network isn’t designed for advertising your work to others

• Keep questions brief and to the point where possible

• Please invite others only where relevant

• Be respectful and kind (that’s pretty much it)

Can’t make it?

You can still contribute by completing the short “What do you want to know?” survey, and you’re welcome to join future monthly drop-ins (regular timeslots to be announced soon).

Want to support the network?

The Nuts & Bolts team welcomes artists and producers who’d like to:

• Feature as a “show and tell” artist

• Offer guidance and help host the online lounge

Contact: hello@enteredem.co.uk

Nuts & Bolts is supported by Applause Rural Touring as part of their Small Scale Touring Artists Development Programme.

Dates & Times

Tuesday 07 April – Monday 13 April 2026
Daily: 10:00 – 17:00

About the Course

This 7-day Marionette Making Course is open to ages 18+ and offers a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of string puppets.

Participants will each make a fully working marionette based on Stephen Mottram’s own design, capable of an impressive range of movement, including a realistic walk. Puppets are made primarily from wood. While some experience of shaping or cutting wood may be helpful, it is not essential — with care and attention to detail, participants with no prior woodworking experience will be fully supported to produce a successful puppet.

The course covers the entire making process, from block of wood to finished figure. To ensure this can be achieved within seven days, some component parts will be pre-cut.

Alongside the making sessions, participants will take part in short daily manipulation sessions using Stephen’s own practice puppets, helping to prepare them to work creatively and confidently with their finished marionettes.

More info | Book Now

Location

Northumbria University
Ellison Place
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST
United Kingdom

Tickets

• Course Ticket: £395.00

• Places are limited

For full booking details and ticket availability, please visit the official event booking page.

More info | Book Now

About the organisers

Moving Parts Arts brings people across the North East of England together through arts, celebration, and creativity.

Moving Parts Arts CIO (charity number 1194137) is an award-winning arts and community development organisation founded in 2017. Through their week-long puppet festival, dynamic outreach projects, and participatory community events, they engage around 20,000 people each year.

At the heart of their work is a belief that everyone can be creative, and that puppetry offers a unique way of bringing people together and breaking down barriers. Their practice is collaborative, accessible, and celebratory — values that are strongly reflected in this course.

More info | Book Now

From February to April 2026, Puppet Place is hosting a spring programme of hands-on puppetry workshops in Bristol, led by experienced practitioners from across the UK puppetry community. The programme includes four in-depth workshops, with three making workshops offering a 10% Early Bird discount if booked before 1 February 2026, alongside a directing masterclass in April.

If you’re a maker, performer, director, educator, or curious creative, this is your invitation to spend time at the workbench, around the table, and inside the wonderful, slightly chaotic world of puppetry.

What’s On at Puppet Place (Save the Dates!)

14–15 February 2026
Two-Day Puppet Making Masterclass
with Isabel Lyster / Paper Jungle
Follow Isabel on Instagram HERE
See more of her work HERE
Early Bird discount if booked before 1 February 2026
Suitable for: 18+

Book 2 day Puppet Making Masterclass

28 February–1 March 2026
Character Sculpting & 3D Pattern Making
with Isabel Lyster / Paper Jungle
Early Bird discount if booked before 1 February 2026
Suitable for: 18+

More info and Book Character Sculpting

7–8 March 2026
Shadow Suitcase Theatre: Building a Portable Shadow Puppet Show
with Isabel Lyster / Paper Jungle
Early Bird discount if booked before 1 February 2026
Suitable for: 18+

More info | Book Now

11–12 April 2026
🎬 Directing Puppetry
with Emma Williams
All workshops take place at Puppet Place, Bristol and are suitable for 18+.

More info | Book Now

Meet the Artists

Isabel Lyster (Paper Jungle)

Isabel has spent over a decade creating puppets, props, and sets for theatre and live events — from the majestic War Horse puppets with Handspring to character costumes at the London Palladium.

After training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Isabel founded Paper Jungle, specialising in exquisitely crafted puppets that bring stories to life. She combines technical rigour with deep curiosity about how puppets connect emotionally with audiences — and she’s an incredibly generous teacher.

Across three hands-on weekend workshops, Isabel will guide participants through:

• Designing and building table-top puppets

• Sculpting character heads and creating 3D patterns

• Constructing a fully portable shadow suitcase theatre

Each workshop is practical, immersive, and designed to leave you with both new skills and finished work. Early-bird discounts are available for these workshops if you book before 1 February 2026.

Follow Isabel on Instagram HERE
See more of her work HERE

Emma Williams – Directing Puppetry

Emma has directed and co-created international touring productions for Pickled Image, Green Ginger and Opposable Thumb Theatre.

This workshop explores how stories are shaped through objects, movement, space, scale, and the unique relationship between puppeteer and puppet. Expect hands-on exploration, playful experimentation, moments of failure, and plenty of discovery — all guided by Emma’s extensive experience as a puppetry director and dramaturg.

Perfect for performers, directors, and theatre-makers looking to expand their creative toolkit.

Contact Emma via emmasoarhd@gmail.com if you have any questions about the course or Sally Reay on info@puppetplace.org with regards to the venue.

Who Are These Workshops For?

These workshops are open to anyone inspired by puppetry — whether you’re developing your professional practice, expanding your skill set, or following a long-standing curiosity.

You don’t need to “be a puppeteer already.” You just need an interest in making, storytelling, and learning alongside others.

– This event is in English, is free, and lasts approximately 75 minutes.

Led by Mark Blashford, this gathering will feature short puppetry performances, and information on upcoming opportunities to connect across North America, with opening remarks by Kurt Hunter and Hélène Ducharme.

Artists performing include:

• Adam Francis Proulx (Canada)

• Alex & Olmsted (United States)

• Charlotte Lily Gaspard (United States)

• Ingrid Hansen (Canada)

• Tom Lee (United States)

• Valise Théâtre (Canada)

• Music by William Wright (United States)

Hosted by The O’Neill in collaboration with UNIMA North America Commission

Register here, purchase the free ticket (USD 0), and you will receive the joining link.

https://theoneill.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SPa00000WIoQXMA1/2026-01-12T20:00:00-05:00

British UNIMA is delighted to open our 2026 programme with a compelling international conversation exploring puppetry’s role in democracy, activism, and social change.

About the Talk

Since the end of apartheid, theatre has played a vital social role in South Africa. Different theatrical forms have increasingly merged, engaging in dialogue and creating a unique landscape of performing practices — as rich and diverse as the country itself.

Puppetry, in particular, has become increasingly significant within this context. Puppets accompanied South Africa’s democratic transition in the 1990s and continue to play an important role today. They are widely used in education, address political issues such as feminism, decolonisation, and climate change, and have recently captured global attention — including live-size animal puppets marching towards the Arctic Circle.

Research, Practice & Democracy

During his research in early last year, Alexej Vancl travelled extensively across South Africa — from Cape Town to remote settlements in the Kalahari — meeting and interviewing both prominent and lesser-known artists, scholars, storytellers, and puppetry activists.

His work explores the connections between contemporary theatre practices and indigenous cultural traditions, focusing on the social and political importance of puppetry within democratic processes.

This talk reflects on those encounters and considers how puppetry functions not only as performance, but as a tool for education, dialogue, resistance, and civic participation.

About the Alexej

Alexej Vancl is an actor, puppeteer, director, dramaturg, stage designer, visual artist, cultural politician, interpreter, theatre anthropologist, and teacher. Based in Germany, he works internationally to foster cultural exchange, particularly in rural contexts.

He is currently employed as a dramaturg at the Puppentheater Zwickau and contributes to international cultural collaboration through research, practice, and teaching.

Event Details

• 📅 Date: Thursday 15 January 2026

• 🕖 Time: 19:00–20:00 GMT

• 📍 Location: Online

• 🎟️ Cost: Free and open to all BrUNIMA or UNIMA members
  
  Thank you for watching.
  
  The recording of the event will be available to watch very soon.

Who Is This Talk For?

This session will be of interest to:

• Puppeteers and theatre-makers

• Artists engaged in social or political practice

• Educators, researchers, and cultural workers

• Anyone interested in the intersection of art, democracy, and social change

British UNIMA is a volunteer-led charitable organisation. All funds raised through membership and donations are used solely to maintain our activities, deliver member support, and offer initiatives such as this scholarship. We are grateful for any support that enables us to continue this work.

A Celebration of Marionettes 2025

Hosted by Rachel Warr and the Art Workers’ Guild Outreach Committee
📅 Wednesday 3 December 2025 | 5.30pm – 9.15pm (Arrive anytime)
📍 The Art Workers’ Guild, London
💫 Free event — booking essential

From our friends at the Art Workers’ Guild

We are delighted to send the link for the marionette event at The Art Workers’ Guild. It has just now gone live. It is a free event but booking is required — booking information is below. There will be displays, talks, and short performances. A ticket is required for entry. If you wish, you can also book for talks and performances.

A Celebration of Marionettes 2025

Rachel Warr and the Art Workers’ Guild Outreach committee invite you to discover and celebrate the world of marionettes.

Join us on Wednesday 3 December for an evening of displays, talks, demonstrations and short performances with marionettes.

Come and explore:

• Displays of marionettes, from the beautiful to the experimental

• Talks on complex collaborations, apprenticeships and stringed puppets in East Asia

• Hands on opportunities to have a go at puppeteering

• Hands-on opportunities to make a simple stringed puppet from foraged materials

• A selection of short marionette performances from expert performers

Contributors include:

The Puppet Theatre Barge, Stan Middleton, Sarah Vigars, Siân Kidd, Oliver Smart, Roger and Julie Lade, David Curell, Ronnie Le Drew, Alicia Britt, Edie Edmundson, Laura Mathews, Eilidh Bryan, Bori Mezo and others.

Entry to the event is free, but booking is essential as places are limited.
You must book a General Admission ticket to gain entry.

General Admission
Book Here
General admission gives you access to displays, short performances and workshops in the Hall.
Open from 5.30pm, arrive anytime.
Booking is essential.

Programme of talks and performances:
There is an additional programme of talks and performances taking place throughout the evening. Each talk/performance must be booked separately and ticket details can be found below:

Performance Cabaret - Master’s Room Book Here
A miscellany of short marionette performances, performed three times, by expert puppeteers including Ronnie Le Drew, Edie Edmundson and Alicia Britt.

Performance times:
6:00 pm – 6:25 pm
7:00 pm – 7:25 pm
8:00 pm – 8:25 pm

Talks - Gradidge Room - Bricolage
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Book Here
Twelve makers have been given the challenge of making marionettes using a selection of odd bits, including children’s wooden building blocks, skittles and used playing cards. Join us to find out more about this experiment in making.

Talks - Gradidge Room - Puppet Flutter/ Flight is a Waltz
7:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Book Here
Oliver Smart will discuss his creative methodology distilling the essential character of a butterfly in the art work Puppet Flutter/Flight is a Waltz; a collaboration with artist Dominic Harris.

Talks - Gradidge Room - Training the next generation
8:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Book Here
How do we attract and support the next generation to specialise in heritage puppetry forms? Alicia Britt will speak about her marionette apprenticeship training and her recent residencies in Taiwan and Vietnam.

NB: Please note that we will be filming and taking pictures at this event. If you are attending and would prefer not to be filmed, please let us know so that we can take appropriate steps to ensure you are not included.

🎟️ Booking Information

Entry: Free, but booking is essential as places are limited.
You must book a General Admission ticket to gain entry.

General Admission – Book Here
Access to displays, short performances, and workshops in the Hall.
Open from 5.30pm, arrive anytime.

This year’s Winter Season continues that proud tradition, offering a rich blend of festive theatre, classic adaptations, early-years favourites and nationwide touring productions.

SANTA’S PUPPET WORKSHOP

29 November – 24 December, Little Angel Workshop, 41 Cross Street
Running time: 40 minutes
www.littleangeltheatre.com

This magical immersive experience involves a chance to meet Santa, create a special craft with one of his busy elves, enjoy a magical screening of The Night Before Christmas, hop aboard Santa’s sleigh for a photo, and take home a surprise Christmas gift. Create joyful memories together in this warm and welcoming festive treat at Little Angel Theatre.

A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE

4 – 23 December, Leicester Square Theatre
Running time: 55 minutes | Ages 3–8
squashandsqueezeonstage.com
A Little Angel Theatre and Lowry co-production

A musical adaptation of the best-selling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Step into the magical world of A Squash and a Squeeze live on stage!
Once upon a time, a little old lady lived all by herself in her cosy cottage, but she wasn’t happy – her house felt just too small…

This heartwarming, hilarious story features puppets, enchanting songs, and the celebrated picture-book partnership of Donaldson and Scheffler. Adapted by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane.
A Squash and a Squeeze (ages 3 – 8), currently touring the UK, is West End bound this Christmas to Leicester Square Theatre from 4 - 23 December.

THE STORM WHALE

Little Angel Studios: 22 Nov 2025 – 24 January 2026
Running time: 1h 15m (incl. interval) | Ages 4–8
www.littleangeltheatre.com

A moving adaptation based on the books by Benji Davies.
The story of Noi, a little boy who rescues a whale and forms a life-changing friendship, returns in this beautifully crafted production.

ME…

Little Angel Theatre: 15 November – 25 January 2026
Running time: 40 minutes | Ages 2–5
www.littleangeltheatre.com

Based on Emma Dodd’s bestselling picture book.
A gentle, shimmering story about family love, belonging and the big wide world.

LITTLE ANGEL ON THE ROAD

THE PAPER DOLLS

9 – 24 December, Hullabaloo, Darlington
Running time: 45 minutes | Ages 3–8

A Little Angel Theatre & Polka Theatre co-production.
A magical, fast-paced adventure with a string of paper dolls who whirl through worlds of danger and delight.

ROSIE ROBIN AND THE CHRISTMAS POST

The Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead: 13 – 24 December 2025
Running time: 45 minutes | Ages 2–7

A tender puppetry-led Christmas story about teamwork, winter magic, and making sure no one is forgotten.

SCRUFF’S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE

at Tobacco Factory, Bristol: 4 December 2025 – 4 January 2026
Running time: 35 minutes | Ages 3–6
A tail-wagging festive adventure filled with puppetry, humour and audience interaction as Scruff the puppy searches for the perfect Christmas gift.

We’re delighted to celebrate the work of our British UNIMA Committee Member, Fagner Gastaldon, who will be hosting The Canalside Puppet Making Course London 2026 — a truly unique Teatro Lambe Lambe puppetry experience presented in partnership with the Puppet Theatre Barge.

Fagner, Director of PuppetSoup, is one of the UK’s leading specialists in Teatro Lambe Lambe and an award-winning puppeteer originally from Brazil. With over twenty years of experience performing and teaching this art form, Fagner holds an Honours Degree in Puppetry from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where he now teaches up to postgraduate level.

This exceptional course offers the rare chance to explore the magical world of miniature theatre with a true master of the craft.

More info | Apply

Workshop Details

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 PuppetSoup’s 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.

From April to June 2026 – £590
Book before Christmas and receive the early bird discount at £550!
(This course and all of our courses can also be purchased as a gift.)

More info | Apply

About the Course

Learn the Brazilian art of Teatro Lambe Lambe puppetry with the UK’s leading specialist, Fagner Gastaldon of PuppetSoup, in this unique canalside course.

Join puppeteer and theatre maker Fagner Gastaldon for a very special in-person Teatro Lambe Lambe course in London, presented in partnership with the iconic Puppet Theatre Barge.

This unique training experience offers you the chance to explore the magical world of miniature theatre — learning how to design, build and perform your own Teatro Lambe Lambe show.

Across a series of creative weekends and guided sessions, you’ll be supported in developing your ideas from concept to final performance both at our dedicated canalside puppet-making studios and on the Puppet Theatre Barge.

“Described by artist Álvaro Apocalypse as ‘A última grande invenção do teatro de animação no mundo,’ or ‘The last great invention of animation theatre in the world,’ Teatro Lambe Lambe is a form of puppetry that takes place inside a confined but easily transportable space, usually a box placed on a tripod that one spectator views at a time.”

Teatro Lambe Lambe is a Brazilian puppetry form that Fagner specialises in performing and teaching. Having been part of this movement from its early days in Brazil, he brings a wealth of authentic insight and expertise to his teaching.

More info | Apply

Course Schedule

Friday 24th April (Evening)
Introductory session at the Puppet Theatre Barge
Meet your fellow students, learn about the history and artistry of Lambe Lambe Theatre, and step aboard one of London’s most charming floating venues.

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th April, 11am–5pm
Weekend Intensive at PuppetSoup’s Canalside Puppet Making Studio
Dive into the creative process with practical sessions on puppet design, miniature theatre construction, storytelling, sound, and light.

May Sessions (choose Saturday or Sunday)
2nd or 3rd May | 9th or 10th May | 16th or 17th May – 11am–5pm

Students will also attend a group visit to see a performance at the Puppet Theatre Barge, gaining inspiration from professional puppeteers working in this distinctive venue.

June Sessions
6th or 7th June – 11am–5pm
Saturday 13th June (All students) – Dress Rehearsal at PuppetSoup Studio
Sunday 14th June (All students) – A Lambe Lambe Day at The Puppet Theatre Barge!

Be part of a special day of performances and final student presentations aboard the Puppet Theatre Barge — performing your own Teatro Lambe Lambe show to invited friends, family, and fellow enthusiasts.

More info | Apply

What You’ll Learn

You will receive expert tutoring in all aspects of Teatro Lambe Lambe, including:

• Designing and building your own miniature theatre

• Puppet design, construction, and mechanisms

• Set and prop creation

• Staging, sound, and lighting techniques

• Performance and storytelling for miniature theatre

You’ll work towards completing your own Lambe Lambe theatre, puppets, and show ready to perform publicly.

This is a mixed-level in-person course for adults (18+), suitable for both complete beginners and experienced puppet makers. All teaching takes place in a relaxed and creative studio environment with access to tools, materials, and demonstrations.

More info | Apply

Booking Information

📅 Dates: April – June 2026
💷 Fee: £590
🎁 Early Bird: £550 if booked before 25 December 2025
Apply by: 31 March 2026
📍 Locations: PuppetSoup’s Canalside Studio & The Puppet Theatre Barge, London
📧 Enquiries & Booking: info@puppetsoup.com

Numbers are strictly limited to ensure personal tuition and guidance. Don’t miss this chance to learn from a true expert and join the growing Teatro Lambe Lambe community in the UK.

More info | Apply

BrUNIMA is thrilled to share this wonderful opportunity from our UNIMA friends in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

We are delighted to invite our members to a special Artist Talk on Lambe Lambe and marionette craft, featuring two exceptional puppetry artists: Rosana …

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Wimbledon College of Arts Postgraduate Performances – Shows 2025
📅 4–5 November 2025
📍 Wimbledon College of Arts, Merton Hall Road, London SW19 3QA
🎟️ Free entry – booking required via Eventbrite

More info | Book Now

The emerging puppeteers who captivated audiences at our BrUNIMA AGM in June are returning to the stage this November — this time with fully realised works as part of the Wimbledon College of Arts Postgraduate Performances 2025.

Back in June, under the banner “Voices in Motion: Emerging Puppeteers at the BrUNIMA AGM”, we met an extraordinary group of artists from the MA Puppetry course at Wimbledon College of Arts (University of the Arts London). Their inventive, heartfelt pieces gave us a glimpse of the future of puppetry — from poetic table-top dramas to surreal shadow cabarets.

Now, they’re stepping into the spotlight once again, joined by students from the MA Performance: Theatre Making course, for two days of live performance that celebrate imagination, craft, and collaboration.

Programme Highlights

Tuesday 4 November – MA Puppetry

Heimer
⏰ 4:00pm | Theatre
Written & Directed by Jeanzia Guan, MA Puppetry
Puppet Design & Construction: Izzy Jiang & Yunshu Jiang, MA Puppetry
Free | Age guidance: 10+ | Duration: ~30 mins
A dreamlike meditation on memory, transformation, and intimacy told through evocative puppet imagery.

Figments
⏰ 5:45pm | AG09
By Edd Berridge, MA Puppetry
Free | Suitable for all ages | Duration: ~20 mins
A playful, poetic exploration of imagination and reality, where the fragments of dreams begin to take form.

Fragments of the Spirit: Whispers of Renewal
⏰ 6:30pm | Theatre
By Duo Li, MA Puppetry
Free | Age guidance: 10+ | Duration: ~10 mins
A visual fable of renewal and resilience, merging traditional shadow puppetry with contemporary performance.

The Brave Rabbit
⏰ 7:15pm | AG09
By Robin Belcher, MA Puppetry
Free | Age guidance: 7+ | Content warning: mild themes of isolation | Duration: ~15 mins
An inventive fable about courage, companionship, and finding light in moments of loneliness.

The Public Stripping
⏰ 8:00pm | Theatre
By Lily Lamplugh, MA Performance: Theatre Making
Free | Age guidance: 16+
A bold, intimate performance exploring vulnerability and transformation.

Wednesday 5 November – MA Performance: Theatre Making

Venice van(IS)hing
⏰ 2:30pm | Theatre
By Magalì Mariani
Free | Age guidance: 16+ | Contains flashing lights

Deus Ex Carne
⏰ 3:15pm | AG09
By Chloe Adams
Free | Age recommendation: 18+ | Contains mature content

Love Talk
⏰ 4:00pm | Theatre
By Hanna Westling
Free | Age guidance: 12+ | Contains flashing lights | Duration: ~30 mins

The Neuro Garden (Sold Out)
⏰ 4:45pm | AG09
By Hanqi Zhao
Age guidance: 15+ | Contains flashing lights, loud sounds, and audience interaction

Emotion Factory
⏰ 6:30pm | Theatre
By Zhijin Li
Free | Age guidance: 16+ | Themes of horror & flashing lights

Memory Museum
⏰ 7:15pm | AG09
By Shitong Lin
Free | Age guidance: 16+ | Includes references to mental health themes

Theatre
⏰ 8:00pm | Theatre
By Archie Kollhoff-Waldron
Free | Age guidance: 13+

💬 From Bristol to Wimbledon

It’s wonderful to see familiar names — Edd Berridge, Robin Belcher, Duo Li, Jeanzia Guan, Izzy Jiang, and Yunshu Jiang — continuing to develop the work we first encountered in Bristol.

What began as sketches and experiments at the BrUNIMA AGM has grown into fully formed, nuanced performances. These pieces embody the evolution of an art form that thrives on collaboration, materiality, and imagination — and they affirm that the future of puppetry is in good hands.

About the MA Puppetry Programme

MA Puppetry at Wimbledon College of Arts explores and develops the art forms needed for the creation of puppetry — from design and fabrication to performance and dramaturgy.

Led by Tobi Poster-Su, the course bridges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary performance practice. Students work collaboratively to design, devise, and perform original puppet-based works, supported by industry practitioners and critical research.

From September 2026, the course will run as a 12-month, full-time programme, emphasising sustainable and ethical creative practice alongside opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with other performance and design courses at Wimbledon.

💡 Graduates emerge with professional portfolios and the confidence to shape puppetry’s next chapter — on stage, on screen, and beyond.

🎟️ Booking Information

All performances are free, but tickets must be reserved in advance.
👉 Book via Eventbrite

Reimagining Judy: A Feminist Lens on Puppet Theatre
with Alissa Mello — hosted by BrUNIMA
Originally aired: Wednesday 12 November, 19:30 GMT (Online)
See the full event below

About the event
What happens when we put women at the heart of puppet theatre history?
In this compelling online event, theatre artist and scholar Alissa Mello invites us into The Judy Project — a ground-breaking research journey that reclaims the Punch & Judy tradition through a feminist lens.

Alissa Mello’s work uncovers the forgotten stories of female puppet-makers, performers, and visionaries who helped shape this iconic form from the 18th century onwards. Funded by a Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship and hosted by the University of Exeter, The Judy Project challenges dominant narratives in puppet history — centering the voices, contributions, and activism of women.

Expect a thoughtful, inspiring evening of performance history, archival surprises, and lively discussion on gender, tradition, and reimagining heritage for the future.

View the full event recording below

Read more

“Live a normal life in non-normal conditions.”
This line from The Nuclear Mermaid — a play created during the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine by the Lviv Academic Regional Puppet Theatre — captures the essence of what it means to make art in wartime.

Ukrainian puppeteers live this motto every day. Despite blackouts, bombings, and financial hardship, they continue to stage premieres, run festivals, organize workshops, and teach — refusing to let the flame of creativity die out.

At this upcoming event, four leading voices in Ukrainian puppet theatre will share how they continue to “live a normal life in non-normal conditions” through their art:

• Mykhailo Urytskyi — Director and educator, Kyiv

• Sofiia Rosa-Lavrentii — Theatre scholar and lecturer, Lviv

• Olga Dorofieieva — Theatre scholar and cultural manager, Kharkiv

• Daria Ivanova-Hololobova — President of UNIMA-UKRAINE

🎭 Join this conversation about resilience, creativity, and the power of puppetry in times of war.

👉 To apply or attend, register here:
Click to register via Google Form

Official dates: September 25 – October 5, 2025
Pre-festival activities begin today (Sept 22)!

Declared “of Municipal Interest,” the festival has become one of Argentina’s most innovative cultural gatherings — where art, education, and community intersect. This year’s edition promises to be bigger than ever, featuring:

Festival Highlights

• Spectacles for all ages: from tender stories for children to bold, thought-provoking performances for adults.

• Urban interventions & a grand puppet parade — transforming Villa Ballester into an open-air stage.

• Workshops & professional training, including teacher education programs and courses in giant balloon puppetry with real job opportunities.

• International screenings: puppet short films from Africa, Asia, and Latin America in a cultural exchange with the Global South.

• Muppets in the Window: a dazzling display of exact replicas of Jim Henson’s beloved characters in Ballester shopfronts.

A Festival with Global Reach
MUNDO TÍTERE FEST is more than an event — it’s a cultural bridge. International artists from Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and beyond will perform alongside Argentina’s finest puppet companies. From poetic object theatre to vibrant street shows, the festival connects local audiences with global traditions.

📅 Key Dates

• Sept 15 – Oct 5: Muppets in the Window exhibition (free).

• Sept 22: Opening performances in schools.

• Sept 25 – 27: My Fantastic Neighborhood — the grand puppet parade with giant balloon creations.

• Sept 27 – 28: International guest performances (Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico).

• Oct 1 – 2: First International Research Colloquium on Puppet and Object Theater – UNSAM Campus.

• Oct 5: Festival closing.

🙌 Why you should come
Because MUNDO TÍTERE FEST is more than entertainment — it’s a celebration of imagination, a chance to see your neighbourhood transformed, and an invitation to connect across cultures. Whether you’re a family looking for magic, a student seeking inspiration, or a theatre lover chasing new experiences, there’s something here for you.

This September and October in Villa Ballester. Bring your family, invite your friends, and be part of a festival that makes art accessible to all.

📍 More info & reservations
🌐 mundotiterefest.com.ar
🌐 ccespacios.com.ar

Step into a world of imagination on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 October, with a packed programme celebrating all things puppetry. Enjoy unforgettable performances from world-class puppet companies, get hands-on in our fun puppet-making workshops, explore a fascinating puppet exhibition, and wander through the enchanting Woodland Wonderland where curious creatures are waiting to meet you.

With lots of bookable shows and free events and activities, this will be a fun day out for all the family!

📍 Events take place at Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards.

👉 See the full programme and book your tickets

📅 Sunday 26 October 2025

Sea Legs Puppet Theatre – Tales from the Farmyard
🕒 11:00 – 11:45am | 12:45 – 1:30pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | £6
Join the story man as he meets The Little Red Hen and her famous farmyard friends.
Find out more

Lempen Puppet Theatre – Penny and the Far Thing
🕒 11:30 – 11:50am | 1:00 – 1:20pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | £4 (limited capacity), ages 4+
A story set on a penny farthing bicycle, celebrating the cycle of the seasons.
Find out more

Sea Legs Puppet Theatre – Edward Lear’s Dream
🕒 1:15 – 2:00pm | 3:00 – 3:45pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | £6, ages 4+
Edward Lear falls asleep at his desk and dreams in nonsense.
Find out more

Lempen Puppet Theatre – Flotsam & Jetsam
🕒 11:00am – 4:00pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | £6, ages 4+
A tale of our time – a visual puppetry treat.
Find out more

Puppet Making Workshop
🕒 11:00am – 4:00pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | Free, drop-in
Make your own woodland animal puppets!
Find out more

Handmade Theatre – Woodland Wonderland
🕒 Various times between 11am – 4pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | Free
Step into a woodland puppet adventure.
Find out more

Pignut Productions – The Flea Circus
🕒 Various times between 11am – 4pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | Free, no booking
Tiny feats of astonishing bravery and beauty.
Find out more

📅 Monday 27 October 2025

Lempen Puppet Theatre – The Fisher and His Wife
🕒 1:45 – 2:05pm | 3:15 – 3:35pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | £4 (limited capacity), ages 4+
A classic Brothers Grimm tale brought to life.
Find out more

Lempen Puppet Theatre – Flotsam & Jetsam
🕒 11:00am – 4:00pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | £6, ages 4+
A tale of our time – a visual puppetry treat.
Find out more

Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre – Puppet Exhibition
🗓 26 – 27 October
📍 Ards Arts Centre | Free
Discover puppets that have inspired audiences for nearly 40 years.
Find out more

Professor Queen-Bee – It’s Bee-Hind You
🗓 26 – 27 October, various times 11am – 4pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | Free
A Punch and Judy show with a green twist.
Find out more

Handmade Theatre – Woodland Wonderland
🕒 Various times between 11am – 4pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | Free
A brand-new puppet adventure in a woodland wonderland.
Find out more

Pignut Productions – The Flea Circus
🕒 Various times between 11am – 4pm
📍 Ards Arts Centre | Free, no booking
The tiniest circus with the grandest tricks.
Find out more

✨ Don’t miss this magical weekend of puppetry in Newtownards — book your tickets now!