Nottingham Puppet Festival, an Arts Council funded partnership between City Arts and Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall, is taking over the city centre on Saturday 13 April with a programme of free puppet performances, parades, exhibitions and workshops.
Produced by City Arts, Nottingham, the day kicks off from 11am in Listergate with Inspirate’s Ancient Giants in a battle between good and evil. Gods and Demons from ancient stories are brought to life in a family-friendly street theatre show, creating an exciting fusion of large-scale puppetry, martial arts, physical theatre and storytelling. This encounter is brought to life by two 12-foot puppets, who interact with audiences as they as they make their way towards a dramatic confrontation.
You’ll see Mahogany Carnival Design’s spectacular costumes from 12noon in Old Market Square. Mahogany Carnival Design is a family of creatives who together make magical, interactive characters that interweave to make an exquisite kaleidoscope of colour and shape. Every piece is a moving sculpture brought to life through expressive performances.
Enjoy beautiful children’s storytelling at the Central Library with performances of The Search for Teddy Island and Charlie Comet and the Magic in the Attic inside the library, whilst being surrounded by Laura Mathews amazing Flying Puppets exhibition.
Outside the library you can catch Lempen’s The Fisher and His Wife – a story told from a box, mounted at the front of a penny farthing bicycle that will keep both children and adults entertained. HandMade Theatre will also be performing outside the library with Tell Me A Story – a fun family show featuring HandMade Theatre’s signature mix of dynamic storytelling, live music, original songs, beautiful puppets and colourful characters.
Over in Sneinton Market you can get close up to By Our Hands’ handcrafted marionettes at their studio open day, and even have the chance to rummage in the wood pile, take up tools and craft a collaged character from repurposed and unruly materials.
On your way to or from Sneinton Market, swing by City Arts Window Gallery to see pieces by puppeteer John M. Blundall from the National Puppetry Archive.
The festival’s puppet trail from Sneinton Market, through the city centre, to Nottingham’s new Central Library will surprise and delight.
Festival listings:
EGGBIRD and other string puppet stories – community centres across Nottingham – check website for full list
The Search for Teddy Island – libraries across Nottingham – Nottingham – check website for full list
Charlie Comet and the Magic in the Attic – libraries across Nottingham – Nottingham – check website for full list
Tue 9 Apr 5pm
In Conversation with Ronnie Le Drew, Theatre Royal – Dress Circle Foyer
Wed 10 Apr 7pm
The Adventures of Prince Achmed, Broadway
Thu 11 Apr 5pm
In Conversation with Nick Barnes, Royal Concert Hall – Level 4 Foyer
Thu 11 Apr 10am children / 2pm young persons / 6pm adults
Puppetry Workshops Royal Concert Hall – Nelsons Studio
Thu 11 Apr 7.30pm
Noones Land, Lakeside Arts
Fri 12 Apr 11am & 1.30pm
Tea with Alice Royal Concert Hall – Level 4 Foyer
Fri 12 Apr from 8pm
Pre-show drinks and more at Lakeside
Janet, Lakeside Arts
Sat 13 Apr City Centre Day 11am – 4pm
Mahogany 11am – 4pm Old Market Square
Workshops and Open Studio Exhibition By Our Hands Woodcarving Studio
Inspirate – Ancient Giants 11am – 4pm Listergate
The Search for Teddy Island 11am – 4pm Central Library (inside)
Charlie Comet and the Magic in the Attic 11am – 4pm Central Library (inside)
Laura Matthews Exhibition 11am – 4pm Central Library (inside)
The Fisher and His Wife 11am – 4pm Central Library (outside)
Handmade Theatre 11am – 4pm Central Library (outside)
The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild Collection 11am – 4pm City Arts Window Gallery
Puppet Cabaret 10.30pm Royal Concert Hall – Level 4 Foyer
Sun 14 Apr 10.30am
Cardboard Carnival, Squire Performing Arts Centre
Sun 14 Apr 1pm & 3pm
Dragon, Lakeside Arts
Tue 16 to Sat 20 Apr
Life of Pi various times, Theatre Royal
Tue 16 Apr 6pm
Cross-cultural Nestbuilding, City Arts
Wed 17 Apr 2pm
Life of Pi Puppet Workshop, Royal Concert Hall – Nelsons Studio
Wed 17 Apr 11am & 2pm
Puppetry and its Integration in the Digital Arts, Nottingham Trent University Waverley Studio Theatre
Wed 17 Apr 5pm
Using Puppetry in Sensory Spaces, City Arts
Wed 17 Apr 7pm
Eraserhead plus introduction, Broadway
Thu 18 Apr 6pm
Nikki Charlesworth – Luckiest Girl Alive, New Art Exchange
Thu 18 Apr 10.30pm
Puppet Cabaret, Royal Concert Hall – Level 4
Sat 20 Apr 10.30pm
Puppet Cabaret, Royal Concert Hall – Level 4 Foyer
Sun 21 Apr 1pm & 3.30pm
The Anansi Stories, Lakeside Arts
Sun 21 Apr 6pm
Sooty – This is Your Life, Theatre Royal
Exhibitions:
Mon 11 Mar – Thu 16 Apr
The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild Collection City Arts Window Gallery
Fri 22 Mar – Wed 24 Apr
Laura Matthews Flying Puppets Nottingham Central Library
Mon 8 Apr – Mon 22 Apr
Things We Lost in The Storm Lakeside Arts
Sat 13 Apr
By Our Hands Open Studios by Our Hands Woodcarving Studio
