News from British UNIMA
Global puppetry highlights, UK events, and fresh opportunities for members
Welcome to our September newsletter which is full of international news and opportunities!
We'd love to draw your attention to some of these events in particular:
UNIMA International events at the world festival of puppetry in Charleville-Mezieres. Look out for a symposium on Women, autobiography and puppetry on Saturday September 27th with input from some amazing women in puppet theatre.
We're also going to hold an evening event on October 1st 'in conversation with The Herds'. Participants in the Stockholm events will be online to discuss the project and their participation. Keep an eye out for further details!
Please do also check out the wonderful Puppet Power event which is being held in a hybrid format and focuses on refugees, migration and related themes.
The curator, Wendy Passmore-Godfrey, says: 'The goal of Puppet Power 2025 (PP25) is to explore and humanize the complex realities of immigration, refugees, and newcomers—and to offer innovative perspectives through the powerful and poetic lens of puppetry'. Click here for more info about Puppet Power
It does clash with the UK Skipton gathering but if you can't go to one, do take a look at the other!
Warm wishes to all our members
Cariad (Chair of British UNIMA)
Skipton International Puppetry Symposium 2025
📅 Save the date and mark your diaries for this landmark event in the UK puppetry calendar.
🛎️ Booking is now open for BrUNIMA members
🔗 Access booking here
Online Premiere: Mark Crane’s New Film
We’re delighted to announce an exclusive online special screening of Mark Crane’s latest puppetry film.
Special Screening Date & Time
🕗 Thursday 23 October 2025
🕰️ 8:00 PM BST (UK time)
🎬 Members! Join us online for the very first viewing of this extraordinary new work.
Be among the first to witness it — together, in real time.
More info
Online In conversation with The Herds
We’re delighted to announce an exclusive in conversation special with The Herds.
🕗 Wednesday 1 October 2025
Members! Join us online via ZOOM.
Also in This Issue…
From residencies in Madrid and Chicago to powerful exhibitions and student offers – read on for this month’s full puppetry roundup.
Opportunities & Open Calls
Pendientes de un Hilo – Apply now for this Madrid-based platform for emerging artists - Deadline 14 September
Hi PerformanCZ: Puppet Production Visitor Programme - Prague - Deadline to apply 30 September
Artist Call-Out: Beverley Puppet Festival 2026. Applications now open · Festival dates: 17–19 July 2026 · Deadline: 30 September 2025
Chicago Puppet Lab Residency – A chance to explore new work in one of the world's most vibrant puppetry scenes - Deadline 15 October
Catapult Artist Intensive – Apply now to develop your practice at the 2026 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival - Deadline 1 December
Open Call: Novi Sad Theatre Festival 2026 — International Festival for Children & Youth - Deadline: November 15
Call for Articles – Giant and Miniature for British UNIMA Notebook
Submission deadline: 30 November 2025Puppets in Prague – Free Workshops & New Courses
Our friends at Puppets in Prague invite you to join their exciting new season of online workshops and puppet “recipes.” Highlights include free live introductions to Mastering the Marionette (Oct 4) and Automata: Simple Mechanisms (Sept 14). 👉 Find out more & register here
Global Events & Features
Puppets in Motion: From Bochum to the World – A journey through puppetry’s social and international impact
Palestinian Puppetry Artists: NOW Exhibition – Spotlighting resistance, resilience, and artistry
Puppets: Characters and Stories from Asia – A closer look at Asian puppetry traditions - Now on until 2 November
UNIMAGAZINE – UNIMA’s new global voice for puppetry is live
Join UNIMA at the World Festival of Puppet Theatres – Heading to Charleville-Mézières? Come connect with the global community
The documentary "Lobatbaz", produced and directed by Pouria Nouri, will be screened on the International Day of Peace at the 23rd edition of the Charleville-Mézières International Puppet Theatre Festival in France. More info
The Bristol 48-Hour Puppet Film Challenge is back!
We’re proud to be supporting Puppet Place’s 48-hour Puppet Challenge, now funding two new prize categories: International Entry and the TIPA (The Inclusive Puppetry Alliance) Entry.
More info
Member News & Offers - A note from our Membership Guru, Zannie
It’s been a busy, joyful first year! Zannie shares what’s new on the site, how to make the most of your membership, and what’s coming next (from members-only events to special offers).
Explore the Members Area for resources, offers, and ways to connect
Read the update on Puppet Notebook
See how we’re supporting Puppet Place’s 48-hour Puppet Challenge
Celebrate members on tour: Taiwan, Norway, Switzerland & more
Would you like to be featured in the next issue of the Notebook? We are currently accepting proposals for articles for an upcoming issue of Puppet Notebook, projected for publication in 2026, with the broad theme of “Giant and Miniature.”