Come along to Ards Puppet Festival in Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 October, for lots of puppet family fun! The magical festival, organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council, will welcome a packed programme celebrating puppets of all shapes and sizes, through performances, workshops and even a Woodland Wonderland filled with curious creatures!
Sea Legs Puppet Theatre present Tales from The Farmyard, where you can meet the Little Red Hen and her famous farmyard friends, along with Edward Lear’s Dream, featuring characters like Quangle Wangle and the Owl and the Pussy Cat. Join Flotsam and Jetsam and Penny and the Far Thing presented by Lempen Theatre for visual puppet theatre experiences with beautiful music. Lempen Theatre will also present The Fisher and his Wife, a traditional story told from a box, mounted on the front of a penny farthing bike!
Over both days, festival-goers can enjoy lively performances Professor Queen-Bee’s It’s Bee-Hind You, a Punch and Judy-style show with a ‘green’ twist, marvel at the astonishing Flea Circus and explore Clydebuilt’s stunning puppet exhibition.
Handmade Theatre Company return to Ards Puppet Festival to charm audiences with their Woodland Wonderland. Families are invited to take a wander through this magical installation and meet the gorgeous collection of woodland creatures. Children can also participate in puppet-making workshops to create their own characters.
Speaking about the festival, Arts Community Development Officer, Amy McKelvey said: “We are thrilled to be presenting a variety of puppet talent at this year’s festival and can’t wait to welcome families to Ards Arts Centre this half-term for a truly magical event which will appeal to young and old alike.”
With a mix of bookable shows and free activities, Ards Puppet Festival promises two-days of fun for the whole family. The festival takes place from 26 – 27 October, 11am – 4pm, in Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards.
To view the full programme and to book tickets, go to: https://puppetfestival.andculture.org.uk/whats-on