What a month it’s been! Following a vibrant World Puppetry Day and a busy March of events, we’re excited to bring you this edition filled with new opportunities, international call-outs, upcoming webinars, and, of course, the announcement of our 2026 Scholarship winner.
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
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
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
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
A Grim Day Out/The Crossing Place 📅20th 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
4th International Theatre Festival 2026 The Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Jatiya Kabi Kazi National Islam University. 🗓 Submission Deadline: 1 May 2026 Festival Dates 4 - 11 July 2026 Email: maheditanjir@jkkniu.edu.bd 👉 More info
Exhibiting Puppets on 11 October 2026 🗓Deadline for submissions 15 June 2026 👉More info
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
We’re thrilled to have reached over 200 paid members of BrUNIMA, a wonderful milestone for our community. Thank you to everyone who has chosen to support the organisation and help strengthen the puppetry network in the UK.
If you’re able to support us, we’re grateful for help in any form:
• sharing opportunities and information we can add to our website, notebook, and social media • getting involved as a volunteer. We’re always keen to hear from people interested in writing newsletters, reviewing shows, interviewing artists, or developing their social media and editorial skills • making a donation to support our Penny Francis campaign • upgrading to a paid membership, referring a friend, becoming a Friend, or even gifting a membership to someone else
Members who joined before April 2025 will receive a notification in the coming weeks as we complete the transition to our new membership platform. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact membership@brunima.org.uk.
Whether or not you’re in a position to upgrade right now, please know that we value all our readers and community members. Your presence, engagement, and sharing make a real difference.
