Every year, the Puppet Animation Festival brings an eclectic programme of events to children and families across Scotland and northern England.
This year’s festival will present more than 150 events, across 80 venues, with a diverse programme of puppetry productions, workshops, and animated film screenings. The line-up will include established and emerging Scottish companies, as well as English and international companies and artists.
As part of this year’s line-up, the festival will be welcoming established Scottish company Visible Fictions with their heartfelt and humorous show A Ladder to The Stars. There will also be showcase pieces by returning companies Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre and Le Petit Monde, as well as emerging Scottish companies Nudge Puppets, Two Detectives and Modest Predicament. Leading English companies Norwich Puppet Theatre and Theatre Fideri Fidera will also bring two compelling puppetry productions.
As part of the animation programme, the festival will screen three critically and publicly-acclaimed films: The Little Prince (2016), adapted from the eponymous Antoine de Saint Exupery novel, The lncredibles (2002) and The Red Turtle (2016), a co-production between Dutch animation studios Wild Bunch and Japanese Studio Ghibli.
The festival will also be hosting a new workshop exploring animated film and community-building through artistic practice and cooking. The Cucinema workshop, from Italian company El Palmeral, is a family-orientated way to learn about the basics of animated film.
After a short practical introduction, covering the basics of drawing and painting on film, participants will work to create their own sections of animation. Afterwards, the participants are invited to assist the Cucinema company members to make a simple dinner while the film is edited. At the end of the workshop, everyone eats together and watches the finished film.
The workshops will take place at SEALL on the Isle of Skye, Lyth Arts Centre in Wick and Southside Community Centre in Edinburgh.
This year’s festival will tour to more than 80 venues in Scotland and Northern England, including the Highlands, Islands and the Scottish Borders, taking in both city centres and rural venues.
The Puppet Animation Festival is the UK’s oldest established performing arts event for children.
When: 30th March – 20th April 2019
Where: Touring to venues across Scotland and Northern England
£: Ticket prices vary, depending on the event/venue
More info: puppetanimationfestival.org