July 2025 News
Your monthly scoop on all things puppetry, performance, and playful creativity!
What a June We Had!
June brought such a joyful burst of creativity, from the buzzing BrUNIMA AGM at the brilliant Puppet Place, it was a delight to be surrounded by so many imaginative people. We had the chance to watch some fantastic student performances and explore the inspiring work of Puppet Place’s resident artists on display throughout the space. If you missed the buzz around Puppet Place in June (or left wishing you could see even more), you’re in luck, they’ll be throwing open their doors again this September for a fantastic interactive weekend of puppets, robots, and creative mischief! For more info on global puppetry events, be sure to check out unima.org.uk.
Equally inspiring were the breath-taking herds in London, as stunning as ever, and I’m already full of ideas for new puppet designs inspired by their collection (find more via their website).
And if you’re a Scottish-based artist, don’t miss the brand-new Visual Performance and Puppetry Fund from our friends at Manipulate Arts, offering seed funding and support for bold, image-led performance work.
In this month’s newsletter:
Upcoming events, including Little Angel Theatre’s Puppet Festival, Autumn season, and Puppets & Prosecco at Norwich Puppet Theatre (yes! puppets and fizz!)
A behind‑the‑scenes look at Mark Crane’s surreal new puppetry film
A roundup of artist opportunities, funding calls, and casting notices
Events and shows ready to tour in 2026 — perfect for producers and programmers
Plus festivals, workshops, exhibitions, and touring shows to explore!
📅 What’s Coming Up
Little Angel Theatre – Autumn Season Launch!
Little Angel Theatre has announced its lively Autumn programme alongside the Children’s Puppet Festival, kicking off at the end of this month. Expect new performances, engaging workshops, and plenty of family-friendly fun!
Whether you're picking up a chisel or exploring performance techniques, July is filled with hands-on experiences:
📍 Little Angel Theatre | 🗓 14–18 July 2025
📍 Royal Conservatoire of Scotland | 🗓 14–18 July
🗓 21–25 July | Limited spaces – act fast!
VIEW THE FULL LIST OF WORKSHOPS COMING UP HERE
🎬 Film Update: The Tragicall Historie of Ophelia Eve Therein the Dominion of Fancy
Hark! The Dominion of Fancy rises…
The incredible team behind The Tragicall Historie of Ophelia Eve Therein The Dominion of Fancy has officially wrapped filming and are now diving into editing and sound. The film is set to release later this year — and it promises to be something truly special.
This richly imagined world, blending puppetry, shadow work, and visual storytelling, explores life under a surreal theocratic regime ruled by Sol Invictus, the Sun God. At its centre: Ophelia Eve, a woman questioning the rules of her world and the figures who hold power.
Legendary talent includes:
Puppets by Lyndie Wright MBE (Atonement, Cyrano, Anna Karenina)
Lead puppetry by Ronnie Le Drew (Muppet Christmas Carol, Labyrinth, Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance)
Directed by Mark Crane with an outstanding creative team.
Featuring original music by Ell Kendall, cinematography by Alexandra Tanase, and an extraordinary team of puppeteers, designers, and creatives.
For the latest updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and post-production progress — follow them on Instagram!
More info on the project here
“What world permits such scoundrels and fawning fools to hold dominion o'er us?” – Ophelia Eve
Opportunities for Artists
Casting Call: National Theatre Puppetry Workshops
Looking to build skills and confidence as a puppeteer?
The National Theatre is offering paid, week-long puppetry training with Finn Caldwell (Life of Pi) this September.
🗓 Dates: 14–18 Sept or 22–26 Sept
📬 Deadline: Monday 21 July at 6pm
📧 casting@nationaltheatre.org.uk
NEW: Visual Performance & Puppetry Fund – Manipulate Arts (Scotland)
A fantastic new opportunity for Scottish-based artists working in puppetry, object theatre, and visual performance.
The Visual Performance and Puppetry Fund 2025
Delivered by Manipulate Arts in partnership with Vanishing Point and Creative Scotland.
What’s on offer:
Up to £5,000 project funding
1 week of rehearsal space
Mentoring and development support
Wellbeing resources
Optional public sharing
🗓 Deadline: Friday 11 July at 12 noon
📎 Download full guidelines and apply »
Also from Manipulate Arts:
Call for D/deaf and Hard of Hearing Creatives
Freelance Trust & Foundation Fundraiser Role – Apply by 24 July
📧 hello@manipulatearts.co.uk
Please share widely — this is a brilliant step forward for visual theatre in Scotland.
Applause Outdoor Touring Menu 2026
Do you have an outdoor show or an idea ready to come alive in parks, playgrounds, or town festivals?
Applause is commissioning and supporting up to six small-scale outdoor shows across Kent, Sussex, and Essex next summer.
🗓 Deadline: 29 August 2025
Commissions up to £5,000
Guaranteed tour dates + mentoring
Apply on Eventotron »
More info
Making Dungeon Gamers – A Fantasy Comedy Musical Adventure
🗓 19 July | 🕒 3:00–4:00 PM | 📍 Mockingbird Cinema, Birmingham
Elves, goblins, puppets, and musical mayhem. A one-off event for fantasy and puppetry lovers.
Follow: @dungeongamers
🧳 Touring Shows for 2026 – Live Now!
Huge thanks to all who submitted their shows, events, and workshops for our 2026 Touring List — now live and growing!
Browse it by genre and type, view them all here!
Want to be listed? Submit your info via the form on the Touring Events page or email hollylikespuppets@gmail.com
Exhibitions This Month
Sound and Vision – National Science & Media Museum, Bradford
🗓 Opens 10 July 2025 More info»V&A East Storehouse Opens the Doors to a Hidden Theatre of Objects
🗓 Now open »
🎪 Summer Festivals: July–August 2025
Frome Festival – Frome, Somerset
🗓 4–13 July 2025Manchester International Festival (MIF) – Manchester, UK
🗓 3–20 July 2025Merchant City Festival – Glasgow, UK
🗓 18–20 July 2025IF: Milton Keynes International Festival – Milton Keynes, UK
🗓 18–27 July 2025Certain Blacks / Ensemble Festival – London, UK
🗓 26–27 July 2025Little Angel Theatre Puppet Festival – London, UK
🗓 28 July – 3 August 2025Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) – Stockton-on-Tees, UK
🗓 1–3 August 2025Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF) – London, UK
🗓 23 August – 8 September 2025Birmingham Weekender – Birmingham, UK
🗓 23–25 August 2025
Thank you as always for being part of this wild and wonderful puppetry community. Whether you're in the workshop, on tour, or just dreaming big — there’s room for your story here.
Submit news or events for the August edition via hollylikespuppets@gmail.com
Holly