The Enchanted House of Puppetry makes a welcome return to Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards this Halloween when the historical building will once again be transformed into a puppet wonderland! No ghosts or ghouls, just incredible performances and workshops to inspire the imaginations of both young and old alike.
Presented by Ards Puppet Festival, the two-day event will feature an eclectic mix of scheduled performances, free puppet shows and workshops and plenty of madcap puppet shenanigans! Expect puppets in all shapes and sizes, from hand puppets to strings and socks!
One of the programme highlights is Snug and Grub Catch a Bug by Garlic Theatre. Snug and Grub live safely underground in their earthy heap. One day they pop out from under a rock to see some googly eyes peering through the grass. What on earth is it? And who can catch it first? But beware, something is hovering in the blue sky ready to swoop down… A wonderfully wiggly adventure for all the family. Join Garlic Theatre for this funny organic tale, with clowning and a host of colourful puppets, a beautifully crafted set and foot tapping music on Sunday 29 October at 11am and 3pm.
As well as scheduled performances, visitors can expect drop-in shows and workshops, taking place at various times throughout both days. The Noughty One An installation by Noisy Oyster fuses puppetry, automata, and robotics with 3D printing to explore our relationship with technology and the mercurial nature of the human world.
The Puppet Labyrinth is also back! Take a weelie wylie wander through the magical meandering puppet labyrinth to find the naughtiest troll in all of Ards, Aloisious Ginderbalm. Only the bravest travellers dare to seek out the enchanted ramblings and gobbledegook from an ancient 700 year old Swedish Troll. He tells the tallest tales for being the shortest troll!
There are also opportunities to get creative at the Puppet Making Workshops where everyone can have a go at making simple puppets to take away and create your very own puppet shows at home.
The Enchanted House of Puppetry is also delighted to celebrate the Puppets in your Place programme! Cre8 Theatre Company have been working with groups from Holywood, Comber, Donaghadee and Portaferry to create this puppet spectacular, funded through the Arts Council of Northern Irelands Rural Arts Engagement Programme. Expect large scale puppets, music and dance to celebrate these four communities. Taking place in Conway Square on Sunday 29 October at 4pm.
Speaking about event, Amy McKelvey, Community Arts Development Officer with Ards and North Down Borough Council said; “We are very excited to be presenting The Enchanted House of Puppetry again this October, when Ards Arts Centre will come alive with puppets! The Ards Puppet Festival is a long-established family favourite and every year we look forward to seeing all the looks of amazement, screams of delight and happy smiling faces. This is one not to miss.”
The Enchanted House of Puppetry takes place from 29 – 30 October 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
Printed copies of the programme are also available from Ards Arts Centre, North Down Museum or any of the Council’s Visitor Information Centres.