Spotlight On: Famous Puppet Death Scenes
A gloriously macabre, hilarious and theatrical tribute to life’s ultimate finale — from Canada's legendary puppet provocateurs. Ideal for: Theatres, late-night adult programming, fringe festivals, 16+
Famous Puppet Death by The Old Trout Puppet Workshop
📅 Touring availability: 2025–2026
📍 Ideal for: Theatres, late-night adult programming, fringe festivals
Suitable for ages 16+
What’s the show?
A parade of puppet demises from imaginary plays you’ll wish were real.
A tragedy. A comedy. A catastrophe. And it’s all very funny
From the minds of Canadian puppet legends The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, Famous Puppet Death Scenes is a show like no other: a string of tiny, ridiculous, occasionally transcendent puppet deaths, each drawn from a fabricated canon of puppet “classics.” Expect:
Bipsy's Mistake, from Bipsy and Mumu Go to the Zoo
Edward’s Last Prance, from The Ballad of Edward Grue
I Hate My Little Brother, by Sally
And dozens more from the Trouts’ invented universe of forgotten puppet theatre
Gloriously theatrical, visually arresting, and delivered with a wink, Famous Puppet Death Scenes is a cult phenomenon with a fanbase that spans continents, and a critically acclaimed run at Edinburgh, across Canada, the US, and Europe.
“Boundless invention... Virtuosity… Exquisite.” — Variety Magazine
“One of the wildest, wackiest, most inventive puppet shows you’re ever likely to see.” — The Toronto Star
“Brilliant, sublime and often hilarious… sheer visual poetry.” — Monday Magazine
“Mind-blowing originality… boldly reshaping puppet theatre into sophisticated adult entertainment.” — Fast-Forward Magazine
This is puppet theatre reimagined — absurd, emotional, and always unexpected.
Who’s it for?
This is puppetry for adults — ages 16+ — perfect for late-night theatre programming, bold festivals, and theatres ready to surprise their audiences.
If your audiences love dark humour, visual invention, and beautifully handmade work with satirical bite, this is the one. It is particularly well-suited for fringe, contemporary performance, and late-night festival slots.
Also ideal for venues who want to surprise, shock (gently), and win rave reviews.
Show Details
Company: The Old Trout Puppet Workshop (Canada)
Running Time: 75 minutes
Ticket Range: £10–£20 (flexible for festivals)
Available to Tour: UK, Europe, International
Language: English
♿ Accessibility: Enquire for relaxed / accessible formats
Contains: Stage fog, abrupt noise, strobe, and puppet nudity
Ideal for: Adults, Theatres, late-night adult audiences, fringe festivals people over the age of 16
🎟️ Production Style
This is table top puppetry meets theatrical cabaret — fully self-contained, technically well-supported, and visually striking with touring experience.
This show draws crowds, stirs up critical acclaim, and lives long in the memory (and dreams) of its audiences.
About the Company
The Old Trout Puppet Workshop was born on a snowy Alberta ranch in 1999 — a group of artists huddled in a bunkhouse, carving puppets by oil lamp. Since then, they’ve grown into one of Canada’s most respected (and rebellious) puppet companies.
Ten original touring shows including Beowulf, Pinocchio, Ignorance, Ghost Opera
Design work for Vancouver Opera, National Arts Centre, and Theatre Calgary
Hosts of international puppetry intensives and creators of sculpture, film, and books
Famed for their craftsmanship, wit, and imaginative universe-building
Still based in Calgary (next to a distillery), the Trout’s continue to push the artform of puppetry into new, deeply strange, and wonderful territory.
“Nothing short of genius.” — The Ottawa Citizen
“Sublimely inventive theatre… Eye-popping.” — The Courier, Vancouver
“Visually stunning and endlessly entertaining.” — The L.A. Times
Links & Downloads
Contact Executive Director of The Old Trout Puppet Workshop
Marcie's email is: marcie@theoldtrouts.org