Buxton puppet fest has something for all

Stunning puppet shows and workshops will take place in the Pavilion Arts Centre and Pauper’s Pit between Monday July 22 and Saturday July 27.

These include The Puppet Gruffalo on Wednesday July 24 with a full marionette stage version of Julia Donaldson’s classic tale, while festival favourites Lempen Puppets return with The Golden Princess on Thursday July 25.

There are also puppet shows with more adult themes on offer: The Madness of Order (Thursday July 25) encompasses live music from Sheffield band The Cuckoo Clocks (ages 14+), and A Bag of Ancient Greeks (Friday July 26, for ages 13+) is a fast-moving show featuring all 19 characters from three famous legends Orpheus, Scylla and Oedipus.

To celebrate the memory of Chris Agnew, puppeteer and the festival’s co-founder, Funny Wonders will present a film Only Smarties Have The Answer on Saturday July 27, a piece which retells accounts of human rights abuses in psychiatric institutions.

Workshops will include lessons in how to be a puppeteer, how to use recycled materials to create a simple rod puppet, how to recreate video games through shadow puppetry and junk puppet making.

There will be free street performances on the Opera House forecourt from Tuesday July 23 to Friday July 26, including The Enchanted Forest, The Funny Farm, The Jungle Rumble and The Land of Happy Ever After.

For a full list of performances and workshops, or to buy tickets, call the Opera House Box Office on 0845 127 2190 or visit www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk.