Ayup puppet!...The NOTTINGHAM PUPPET FESTIVAL is back!

The Nottingham Puppet Festival has been confirmed to take place from 24-27 June 2021, in a collaboration between the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, City Arts Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.

Held in various locations around the city centre, audiences can expect a vibrant and fun programme of puppetry; from spellbinding adventures and storytelling, to curious creatures and creations.

TRCH Creative Learning Manager, David Longford, said “We are so delighted, after much re-scheduling, to finally – FINALLY – announce dates and programme for the second Nottingham Puppet Festival in June. Our first Puppet Festival in 2018 was a huge success and so we have been working hard to ensure that the festival returns and becomes a new and regular event in the city’s calendar. Whilst the 2021 Puppet Festival has been scaled to reflect current conditions, TRCH will be working closely with colleagues and artists all across the city to bring as much varied and much-needed fun and entertainment to Nottingham”

Join Maid Marionette and a whole host of rebellious puppets, including the YOUnique Collective from New Art Exchange, on Saturday as they weave their way around the grounds of Nottingham Castle, lending a touch of magic and carnival flavour to the newly reopened castle and grounds. Then head to Sneinton Market on Sunday for a choice of family shows followed by puppets in the plaza including the fabulous flamingos!

Also, on Saturday, from 11.30am, Nottingham based Ditto Theatre will be blasting into space from outside Nottingham Playhouse with ‘Rocket Girl’, a walkabout puppet treat, based on their award-winning show, where you will discover if you have what it takes to be an astronaut.

Elsewhere in the city, Norwich Puppet Theatre’s Pied Piper will be dancing into the Squire Performing Arts Centre for a special performance, as well as exhibitions at City Arts, and daily online puppet poetry. Following the success of Nottingham Trent University’s puppetry talks series at the last festival, they’ll once again celebrate puppetry with talks and debates from local up-and-coming, as well as established, creators and makers, which will take place earlier in June and then be shared as part of the festival.

Broadway will be hosting an illustrated talk from leading marionettist Ronnie Le Drew, best known for his years as Zippy from TV’s Rainbow, and work on Labyrinth, The Muppets Christmas Carol, and more recently his work on Netflix’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. This will be followed by a screening of the classic fantasy Labyrinth as well as a late-night screening of 80s classic puppet horror Child’s Play.

Tickets will need to be booked online in advance for all performances, except at the castle where a General Castle Admission ticket will need to be purchased. This will allow access to all of the Nottingham Puppet Festival programme in the Castle grounds.

For the full festival line up and to book tickets, please click here.