Bringing Puppetry to the Public: A New Chapter with SO Festival
Samuel Pearson reflects on his journey so far and what's to come as a Supported Artist for 2025/26
Let me introduce you to Samuel Pearson – a gifted actor and puppeteer based in North East Lincolnshire. A First-Class Drama graduate from the University of Lincoln and founding member of Kazbah Theatre, Samuel has spent the past few years bringing imaginative performances to outdoor festivals and family audiences across the region.
Now, he’s one of just three artists selected for SO Festival’s brand-new Outdoor Arts Development Scheme – a year-long programme supporting Lincolnshire creatives who are developing bold, original work for public outdoor spaces.
In the piece below, Samuel shares more about the scheme, his own creative journey, and what’s next as he develops a brand-new marionette-inspired show by the sea…
From Puppets to Public Spaces: My Journey with SO Festival’s Outdoor Arts Scheme
By Samuel Pearson
I’m incredibly proud to be one of the artists supported by the new Outdoor Arts Development Scheme launched by SO Festival.
This exciting initiative is designed to support artists living and/or working in Lincolnshire who are developing creative work suited to outdoor public environments. Over the next year, SO Festival will support three selected artists through training, ‘go-see’ visits, and idea development, with the aim of championing local voices and connecting creativity with Lincolnshire’s communities and landscapes.
I applied to be part of this scheme because I wanted to take the next step in my journey as a performer and puppeteer — to move into developing my own original outdoor works.
My Path to Puppetry
For the past two years, I’ve been developing my puppetry practice alongside my career as an actor. In 2023–2024, I worked closely with Kazbah Theatre., performing in shows like Cirque Du Pierre, Salty’s Holiday, and The Dog Show at festivals and venues across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
With support from Create North East Lincolnshire’s Development Fund, I deepened my puppetry skills through hands-on training with brilliant practitioners such as Kathleen Yore (Odd Doll), Natasha Holmes (Tell Tale Hearts), and Sophie Powell (Puppet Box). I also built a library of books, DVDs, and research materials to continue learning independently.
I jumped at the chance to train with Sue Buckmaster (Theatre-Rites) at Shoreditch Town Hall, October 2024. I’ve long admired her ‘puppet whispering’ techniques, and it was an amazing opportunity to work alongside other professional puppeteers – many of whom I’m still in touch with.
Looking Ahead with SO Festival
Being selected as a SO Festival Supported Artist means I’ll now be developing a brand-new outdoor project — one that blends my passion for puppetry with public performance. I’m especially interested in exploring marionette puppetry, inspired in part by a historical marionette show that once visited Cleethorpes in the 1950s.
I look forward to learning from other outdoor artists, attending festivals across the UK, and building connections that will shape my future work.
I’m truly grateful to SO Festival and Magna Vitae for championing Lincolnshire-based creatives and helping make work like this possible.
🔗 Find out more about the SO Festival scheme:
SO Festival Champions Lincolnshire Artists with New Outdoor Arts Initiative
🧵 Follow my journey and latest work:
🌐 Website: www.samuelpearson.co.uk
📸 Instagram: @samuelcpearson
📘 Facebook: Samuel C Pearson
💼 LinkedIn: Samuel Pearson
🌍 BlueSky: @samuelcpearson
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