Season’s Greetings from British UNIMA
Reflecting on a year of connection, creativity & community
Season’s Greetings from British UNIMA!
As we reach the end of an extraordinary year for British UNIMA, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to every member, supporter, collaborator, volunteer and puppetry champion who has joined us on this journey. Since April, we have experienced significant growth, launched new digital platforms, strengthened global connections, and continued to champion puppetry across the UK and beyond.
This newsletter brings together BrUNIMA 2025 highlights, our continued work toward a more inclusive BrUNIMA, exciting plans for 2026, and several early dates for your diary.
🌐 A Transformative Year Online
Since April, we have:
Welcomed 66 new members and launched the new FRIEND of British UNIMA category
Launched our new website, now receiving 200–2,000 views per day
Grown our monthly e-newsletter to almost 600 readers worldwide
Built a Digital Archive of the BrUNIMA Bulletin, thanks to Ray Da Silva
Released the first Digital Edition of The Puppet Notebook
Expanded our social presence to 4.5k Instagram followers with 200,000+ recent views
Launched the Penny Francis Campaign, honouring a lifelong advocate for puppetry
We proudly represented UK puppetry at the 24th UNIMA Congress in Chuncheon, South Korea, the Skipton International Puppet Festival , and through online events including:
A special screening of BrUNIMA member, Mark Craine’s new short film follow here on Instagram for the latest
An inspiring talk by Alissa on The Judy Project, still available via our website. View here
These achievements form the foundation on which we are building the next stage of British UNIMA.
🤝 Celebrating Community & Collaboration
Our AGM in Bristol—hosted with Puppet Place—brought members together and showcased innovative work from university students whose artistic futures we are excited to follow.
We proudly supported the Puppet Place 48-Hour Challenge, helping raise the profile of this fantastic event and expanding access to puppetry.
We highlighted 50+ global opportunities for callouts, training, and events, building connections and strengthening the puppetry community via our newsletter and social media.
This year also saw the launch of our Spotlight on Members series. With our expanding online audience, we are eager to shine an even brighter light on your work — whether it’s new shows, research, workshops or collaborations. Do reach out so we can share your artistry with the wider community.
We continue to champion the brilliant work published in the UNIMAgazine, as well as initiatives such as the Puppet Passport, enabling young people to attend international festivals and build global networks.
🧡 Building a More Inclusive Future
One of our key priorities moving forward is strengthening the inclusivity and accessibility of British UNIMA.
We are currently updating our Inclusion Policy, and we warmly invite members to share their thoughts, needs, and suggestions.
If you would like to contribute, please email:
📩 Chair@unima.org.uk and puppetry@brokenpuppet.co
Your voices are essential in shaping a British UNIMA that truly represents and supports our entire community.
🌟 Looking Ahead: A Bigger, Bolder Year for British UNIMA
We’re launching a fresh programme of events including specialist talks, industry conversations, and skill-sharing sessions designed to deepen knowledge and spark new ideas across the puppetry community. Our summer AGM will bring members together for connection, insight, and celebration, alongside our World Puppetry Day activities and the announcement of our Penny Francis Award recipients.
🎓 NEW! BRUNIMA Scholarship: Lambe Lambe Puppetry 2026
Next year we will open applications for the British UNIMA Scholarship, offering one member a fully funded place on Fagner’s Lambe Lambe Puppetry Workshop as part of the 2026 Canalside Lambe Lambe Theatre Course, delivered with PuppetSoup and the Puppet Theatre Barge. This is a unique training opportunity that supports emerging artists and strengthens the Lambe Lambe community in the UK.
🎙️ Upcoming Talks & Events
📅 15 January — Alexej Vanci: Puppetry & Democracy
Join us for an online talk with the brilliant Ukrainian/German artist Alexej Vanci, reflecting on his puppetry and democracy work in South Africa over the past year.
🕖 19:00–20:00 GMT (online)
📅 February — Christine Schmidle: Puppetry & Virtual Reality
We welcome Christine Schmidle, Artistic Director of the German Puppet Theatre in Zwickau, for a fascinating session on her ground-breaking series of virtual-reality puppet productions.
📅 March — Global Puppetry Residencies Webinar
We’re preparing an international webinar exploring puppetry residencies around the world — what they offer, how to apply, and how they can shape and develop your work. Perfect for artists planning their next step or seeking international experience.
We’ll be sharing full details, links, and booking information for all these events early in the new year — keep an eye on our website, newsletter, and social media.
❤️ Emergency Aid: Supporting Puppeteers When It Matters Most
Through UNIMA’s Emergency Aid programme, British UNIMA has been able to support four puppeteers in Gaza this year. Their resilience and creativity are extraordinary, and you can follow their updates via our Emergency Aid page. We remain committed to ensuring puppeteers in crisis have access to support, solidarity, and a global community that cares.
💛 Help Us Keep This Momentum Going
Everything we’ve achieved—and everything we’re preparing for—happens because of you.
To continue funding scholarships, supporting emergency aid, amplifying opportunities, and championing puppeteers across the UK and the world, we need your help.
You can support British UNIMA by:
Donating, if you can
Using online shopping donation tools, which send small contributions our way at no cost to you
Every contribution, large or small, helps us strengthen this community, invest in emerging talent, and respond where we are needed most.
💙 Thank You
To our members old and new: thank you for your enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication to the art of puppetry. Your support enables British UNIMA to grow, connect, and champion this vibrant community.
Here’s to another year of inspiration, collaboration, and the magic of puppetry.
With gratitude,
British UNIMA
