E2: OBJECT, UNIVERSE & LIFE IN PERFORMANCE
Merlin Puppet Theatre
SPACE SIX
Monday 8th - Tuesday 9th April 2019
10am - 5pm daily
Ages 18+ / adults
£120
An approach to all three basic elements that contribute to making a complete visual universe - Object, Universe and Life. OBJECT - puppet, mask, shadows; UNIVERSE - scenography, light and sound; LIFE - how these elements become animate. An exploratory laboratory, which examines through analysis, practice and experimentations, how a harmonious puppetry performance is created. Through improvisations and research on stage individually and in groups, participants will work on how to develop and realise an idea, all the way from scratch to the final desirable result. See here for Merlin Puppet Theatre's show at the festival, "Noone's Land".
The 6th edition of Newcastle Puppetry Festival ran 19th - 27th April 2025. Spanning 9 days at indoor and outdoor venues across the city, the 2025 programme presented shows, workshops, talks and films for adults, kids, teens and families. The festival included 2 weeks of community workshops resulting in the Toon Underground parade at Exhibition Park and a two week exhibition at the Great North Museum: Hancock. Shows at Northern Stage included the UK premieres of 'Cantos Animata' and 'Panta Rhei II by t'Magisch Theatertje.
2025 Festival
Taking part in the puppetry festival was a very rewarding experience, I had fun from start to finish, and I got to make a giant turnip, I couldn't've asked for anything more."
– Parade Participant, 2025
2025 Festival Gallery
Artists
Bean Pig Puppets, Bell & Bullock, Bryony McCombie-Smith, Chloe Rodham, Freddie Hayes, Gavin Glover, Grandly Strange Puppet Theatre, Jo Feijo / Moving Parts Arts, Judith Hope Puppet Maker, Kain Penny Playground, Keep Drawing Charlie!, Headstrung Puppets, Lempen Puppet Theatre, Life & Limb Puppets, Matthew Robins, Pui Lee, Rag & Bone, Red Thing Creations, Rosie Bristow, Stephen Mottram, t'Magisch Theatertje, Tatwood Puppets, The OBJECT Project, William Steele
Funders
Made possible through funding from Arts Council England, Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, National Lottery Community Fund 'Awards for All', Nexus, The Barbour Trust, Hadrian Trust, StreetGames Newcastle.
Partners and Venues
Northern Stage, Great North Museum: Hancock, Von Fox Promotions, Illumination Theatre Services, Life & Limb Puppets.
Toon Underground Parade
Artistic Director / Concept: Kerrin Tatman
Engagement Lead: Tamsin Rees
Moving Parts Producer: Izaak Gledhill
Assistant Producer: JonJoe Clennell
Lead Parade Artists: Chloe Rodham, Judith Hope, Rosie Bristow, William Steele
Assistant Artists: Ellie Hand-McCready, Mark Rogerson, Pui Lee, Rose Richardson, Tom Saunders
Other Parade Performers: Bell & Bullock, Dan Brown, Dave Silk, Ladies of the Midnight Blue, Matt Wood, Ryan Barker, The Bangshees
Illustration: Becky Musgrove
Technical Manager: Louise Gregory
Videography and Photography: Von Fox Promotions
Parade community groups: 92 Beats Theatre Company, Children NE: FAB Group, Lemington Scouts, Moving Parts Ambassadors, Newcastle Youth Circus, Ngage NE Ltd, The Bangshees, The Bostey Project, The Elders Council and The Varnish Women. A huge thank you to all individual residents, families and festival volunteers who made the project possible!
Take a look at the 2025 brochure
Crucial to our aims and objectives, the festival includes a series of bespoke projects that get community groups and students creative and interacting with puppetry or provide free access to high quality puppet theatre. We are passionate about participant-led work and build avenues into the festival programme that allow local residents to get directly involved. We want to incubate a community for puppetry in the North East of England and our festival is a big part of that narrative. Check out Toon Underground Parade below...
A huge thank you to our funders and partners for making the festival possible!
