Nottingham Puppet Festival

Nottingham Puppet Festival Nottingham Puppet Festival is back from Sat 27 Jun to Sun 5 Jul. Watch this space for more info announced soon!

An Arts Council funded collaboration between City Arts and the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, supported by Its In Nottingham Bringing the city to life with puppets and people!

Puppetry is so much more than just childhood TV classics or toys with strings attached - it is a brilliant gateway into ...
31/05/2026

Puppetry is so much more than just childhood TV classics or toys with strings attached - it is a brilliant gateway into arts and culture that can tackle big, important themes and spark conversations about identity, background and the stories we tell.

Our adult programme at this year's Puppet Festival is a great example of this. We've got a fantastic mix of events lined up, from darkly funny theatre and surreal cinema screenings to fascinating industry talks and late-night cabaret. If you're looking for an experience that's a bit different, there is plenty to choose from.

We've rounded up some of the highlights over on the blog so you can start planning your festival schedule.

https://nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk/2026/05/26/nottingham-puppet-festival-2026-adults/

PSA: Calling all puppet performers!We are on the lookout for fantastic cabaret acts to be part of an exciting night at t...
30/05/2026

PSA: Calling all puppet performers!

We are on the lookout for fantastic cabaret acts to be part of an exciting night at the Theatre Royal.

The evening is going to be a three-part showcase hosted by a puppet compere with an interactive interval full of walkabout puppets and audience activities.

If you want to be involved, please send an email to [email protected] with a brief description and details of your act. We can't wait to see what you've got!

Judith Hope - Puppet Maker is bringing The Keeper's Nest to Albert Street on Saturday 27 June, and it looks absolutely s...
29/05/2026

Judith Hope - Puppet Maker is bringing The Keeper's Nest to Albert Street on Saturday 27 June, and it looks absolutely spellbinding!

Inspired by the old magpie rhyme ("one for sorrow, two for joy"), these two giant, mysterious bird puppets will be stalking the streets on stilts in search of your darkest secrets. Magically costumed Secret Collectors, carrying special paper and feathered pens, invite audiences of all ages to share their secrets and post into the special post boxes carried by the birds. The magpies then promise to keep the secrets safe until the end of time.

It’s free, non-verbal and perfect for all ages. They'll be popping up at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm throughout our City Centre Day.

You can check out the full schedule over at nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk

Broadway Cinema are bringing a couple of absolute cult classics to the big screen as part of the Puppet Festival line-up...
27/05/2026

Broadway Cinema are bringing a couple of absolute cult classics to the big screen as part of the Puppet Festival line-up.

First up is Frank Oz's legendary Little Shop of Horrors on 29 June. For years, the only version of Frank Oz’s ebullient film adaptation of the smash off-Broadway musical was the theatrical cut, re-edited with a new, happy ending after test audiences reacted badly to the stage production’s darker, apocalyptic ending. Enjoy this 40th anniversary screening with the original ending restored in all its glory.

Then, we have a special screening of Jan Švankmajer's Alice on 1 July. It’s a deliciously dark Czech adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic, blending live-action with stop-motion animation and traditional folk puppetry.

Book online at https://nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk/whats-on/

Both films will feature a special introductory talk to kick things off, making them a must-watch for any film or puppet fan.

Sneak peek of Roxy the fox puppet from Wise Owl Theatre Company's Robin Hood and His Animal Friends - cannot wait to see...
26/05/2026

Sneak peek of Roxy the fox puppet from Wise Owl Theatre Company's Robin Hood and His Animal Friends - cannot wait to see the rest of the animals come to life!

On at Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall on 27 and 28 June!

Book at: https://nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk/?s=robin+hood

The Wild Beasts of Silly are heading to the festival, and they sound completely chaotic in the best way possible. Transp...
26/05/2026

The Wild Beasts of Silly are heading to the festival, and they sound completely chaotic in the best way possible.

Transported from their silly home dimension by Made By Raccoons, and lost in our own, the beasts roam the earth surprised by all they find. They look in bins, walk into bushes, climb trees, are surprisingly terrified of small steps, slowly learning from the audience how to interact with this new world.

Along the way they will hope to impart some of their cultural knowledge of stupidity, as they lead the audience in far noise mantras, dumb meditations and ridiculous games. We cannot wait to meet them!

Catch them at the City Centre Day on Sat 27 June in Old Market Square at 11.15, 1.15 and 3.15

Full line up: https://nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk/

Broadway Cinema are hosting a brilliant talk and Q&A with Sarah Loader, the Executive Director behind Little Amal and Th...
25/05/2026

Broadway Cinema are hosting a brilliant talk and Q&A with Sarah Loader, the Executive Director behind Little Amal and The Herds.

Explore the creation of two world-famous, large-scale puppet projects: Little Amal and The Herds. Little Amal, a 12-foot refugee child, has travelled across 26 countries to an audience of over 2 million. The Herds follows a 20,000km journey of life-size animal puppets fleeing climate disaster from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle. Both projects use massive puppetry to create emotional, political public encounters.

Sarah will share how these productions come together, covering everything from artistic vision and international collaboration to complex logistics and public participation. The Q&A will be hosted by freelance producer Bev Adams, whose research focuses on large-scale puppetry and climate activism.

Don't miss this chance to hear directly from a producer at the center of world-class puppetry, ask your questions, and explore what ambitious public art can achieve.

Tickets at nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk

[📸 Jack Hall, PA Media Assignments]

Dandelions usually get a bad rep as pesky weeds, but they’re actually incredibly resilient plants that nourish wildlife ...
24/05/2026

Dandelions usually get a bad rep as pesky weeds, but they’re actually incredibly resilient plants that nourish wildlife and find a way to thrive in the toughest conditions. Luke Brown Company's blog post dives into the deeper meaning behind the The Walk of The Dandelion, and how they try to make thoughtful, eco-friendly choices while touring outdoor work.

Check out the full post here: https://nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk/2026/05/21/nottingham-puppet-festival-2026-2/

Come and join HandMade Theatre down on the farm for this beautiful puppet show featuring a wonderful collection of lovea...
23/05/2026

Come and join HandMade Theatre down on the farm for this beautiful puppet show featuring a wonderful collection of loveable animals, handcrafted from recycled materials, from the cheeky goat to the giant highland cow.

Playfully interact with these wonderful puppets and enjoy original music and songs at our City Centre Day on 27 June. They'll be at the Library Plaza at 11.30, 1.30 and 3.30!

And you can catch HandMade Theatre's Puppet Exhibition at Nottingham Central Library Nottingham City Libraries too!

Look what’s arrived….full brochure out now.
22/05/2026

Look what’s arrived….full brochure out now.

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