Toon Underground Parade
Toon Underground Parade was a heritage, arts and environmentally-focused participatory project as part of Newcastle Puppetry Festival 2025. Two weeks of free-to-access community workshops at the Great North Museum: Hancock culminated in a public parade in Exhibition Park to open the 6th edition of the festival. Following the parade, participant and artist creations were exhibited at the Museum for two weeks during the Easter Holidays.
Toon Underground Parade credits
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!
"I had a wonderful time at the puppet workshops. The environment was incredibly welcoming and supportive, and there was such a range of activities to get stuck into. I would definitely want to do it again next year." (Toon Underground Participant)
