Subscribe to the Puppet Happenings Newsletter and receive a weekly email of Puppet Happenings highlights every Friday!

President - Larissa Deak (QLD)

General Secretary- Kay Yasugi (NSW)

Treasurer - Katherine Hannaford (NSW)

Extra-Ordinary Committee Members- Alex Joy (VIC), Susie Boeselt (SA), Tahlia Ransley (NSW), Christopher Ragg (VIC) and Tania Heideman (TAS).

Councillors - Larissa Deak, Kay Yasugi and Alex Joy

Join our free mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/721bff46fca8/unima-australia-newsletter-signup

Not a member? Learn more about joining UNIMA Australia here.

Follow us on

Instagram @unima_oz

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UnimaOz

All members are being sent access codes via email for the UNIMA Australia website. Once you log in, you can watch recordings of past meetings, workshops, and social events.

The email will look something like this (note - this is not spam):

From: WordPress <wordpress@unima.org.au>

Subject: [UNIMA AUSTRALIA] Login Details

To: (Your email address)

Username: (first name.surname)

To set your password, visit the following address:

(we will send you a unique link)

https://www.unima.org.au/wordpress/wp-login.php

Once you log in, you can watch recordings of past meetings, workshops, and social events.

Haven't received your access code? Contact our Membership Secretary Katherine Hannaford at membership@unima.org.au

Katherine has been working very hard to create this archive for our members, and we thank her immensely for her efforts!

📚 UNIMA Oz Book Collection – Now Online!

Katherine has also been busy testing out a new scanning app and has successfully digitised the very first book from the UNIMA Oz collection. She also discovered another title is freely available on Scribd.

She’s created a dedicated page in our Members Area to host the full collection as it grows – making it easier than ever for members to explore our puppetry library.

Did you know that you can buy UNIMA Australia merchandise at our Red Bubble store?

You can grab a t-shirt, stickers, posters, and lots more - perfect for wearing to shows, festivals, gatherings and meet-ups. Our logo was designed by the renowned Australian puppeteer Norman Hetherington, creator of Mr Squiggle.

The amazing 'Puppet Finger' and 'Alanis Marionette' designs were created by Francesca 'Frankie' Snow for the ABC iView puppet campaign in Australia in 2021. The graphic was kindly donated to UNIMA Australia for members and all puppet lovers to enjoy! More info, clips and photos at [http://www.digitalseagull.com/digital-seagull-blog/dont-be-surprised-if-youre-surprised-puppets-on-abc-iview]

UNIMA Australia is the Australian branch of UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette – International Puppetry Association), which has national centres in more than 90 countries. Established in 1929, UNIMA is affiliated with UNESCO and is a member of the International Theatre Institute.

Not yet a member or your membership has lapsed? Join or renew here: UNIMA Australia Membership

Naranjarte (Ana Lorite and Sergio Aguilar) have been creating an online map showing puppet festivals around the world! The markers are colour coordinated according to the months of the year.

If you scroll down on the site there is also a spreadsheet showing the festivals by month.

Check it out - we hope you will find it helpful for any touring puppeteers and to plan future puppet travels!

Huge thanks to Ana and Sergio for contributing to create and update this map, which also allows others to contribute!

https://www.naranjarte.com/festivalsmap/

Ned, a classic ventriloquist doll, and Monique, a large crocodile puppet, were central to Allan’s performances. Alongside them, Jude has a collection of original materials, including performance notes, photographs, costumes, ventriloquism training books, and even early designs for Monique.

Ideally, these treasured puppets would find a place in a museum or collection dedicated to preserving Australia’s puppetry history. However, Jude is also open to speaking with collectors or performers who could give them new life.

Allan performed at venues including Le Crepe Bretonne in St Kilda, and if anyone remembers him or has stories to share, Jude would love to hear from you.

If you or someone in your network is interested in giving Ned & Monique a good home, or if you have memories of Allan to share, please reach out to Jude at judeblankfield@gmail.com. The puppets are currently located in Hawthorn, VIC.

Let’s help find Ned & Monique the perfect new home and celebrate Allan Blankfield’s legacy!

For details on how to apply, visit www.erth.com.au/recruitment

Where is the Green Sheep? is an immersive visual theatre experience based on the much-loved children’s book by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek. Adapted for the stage and directed by Eva Di Cesare, the production blends puppetry and animation to invite young audiences on a gentle and playful quest with three farmers searching for the elusive green sheep.

The puppets for the production were created by UNIMA Australia members Kay Yasugi (Puppet Designer/Maker) and Kailah Cabanas (Puppetry Director & Assistant Director). Kay would also like to acknowledge and thank UNIMA members Katherine Hannaford, Kerrie Fuller and Kaia Helle for their generous help with the build, alongside Paige Hoorweg, George Wohlfiel and Chloe Jade, who also contributed to bringing the puppets to life.

Co-created with students from Bankstown West Public School, whose voices feature as narrators, the production is enriched by the imagination and perspectives of children themselves.

The show premiered successfully at Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s Out of the Box Festival in Brisbane in June and is currently playing at the Sydney Opera House this December.

Upcoming performances:

NSW

• Newcastle

  Civic Theatre09 Jul – 11 Jul, 2026

  Buy Tickets

  Chatswood

  The Concourse14 Jul – 15 Jul, 2026

  Buy Tickets

  Western Sydney

  Coliseum Theatre17 Jul – 18 Jul, 2026

  Buy Tickets

Check out National Tour Dates for 2026!

More performances are planned across Australia in 2026 — visit the Monkey Baa Theatre Company website for upcoming dates and bookings: https://www.monkeybaa.com.au/shows/where-is-the-green-sheep

Where is the Green Sheep? is a co-production with Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s Out of the Box Festival, in association with Arts Centre Melbourne, Sydney Opera House and The Art House, Wyong.

https://open.substack.com/pub/hollylikespuppets/p/september-2025-newsletter?r=6aew7x&utm_medium=ios

A robust indoor/outdoor glove puppet stage.

Built by Richard Hart to outlive us all.

Complete with covers, lights, etc.

Slightly used - less than 1,000 times

Current location: Toowoomba, Queensland

For more information ring Dennis Murphy

0404 775 585

We welcome practitioners, educators, and advocates involved in:

• Puppetry in education

• Support for vulnerable people

• Relief and therapy work

• Social development through the arts

The Commission is currently developing exciting projects, including:

• Research and development of puppet pedagogy for people with special needs

• Translating applied puppetry concepts and studies for more UNIMA national centres

• Creating a hybrid academic course for members worldwide

If you’d like to share your skills, propose a project, collaborate on research, or help spread knowledge, we’d love to hear from you.

📧 Email: appliedpuppetry@unima.org

From now on, all memberships will renew on 1 March each year, beginning in 2026.

This change will make it much easier for our Treasurer and Membership Secretary to keep records up to date, ensure accurate reporting to UNIMA International, and help us confirm eligibility for scholarships (whch usually close at the end of March).

What you need to do

• Please make a note that your next standard renewal date is 1 March 2026.

• If you currently have automatic payments set up, please adjust them to align with the new renewal cycle.

  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are we changing?

Having one renewal date:

• Makes administration simpler

• Reduces follow-up emails

• Ensures accurate membership records for scholarships and reporting

• Helps us plan events and member benefits more effectively

  
  

Thank you for your continued support of UNIMA Australia.
This change helps us manage memberships more smoothly and ensures we can keep providing opportunities, events, and resources for our community.

The UNIMA Happiness Commission is delighted to launch a competition for a song or anthem to celebrate the 100th anniversary of UNIMA in 2029.

This special song will embody the joy of our global friendship and connectedness, taking listeners on a musical journey across the continents. The lyrics may also be written in different languages to reflect UNIMA’s diversity.

A UNIMA Choir will be formed to perform the song in Pragueduring the centenary celebrations!

We warmly invite composers, lyricists, and choir singers from all over the world to express their interest by contacting:
📩 happiness@unima.org

More info: https://www.unima.org/en/open-call-a-song-for-unima/

Whether you’re keen to make, share, celebrate, or simply drop in and say hello, we’d love to see you during the year.

More events will be announced as 2026 unfolds, but here are a few you can start marking in your calendar now:

🐝 The Hive - Second Wednesday of the Month!

Monthly online drop-ins to share work, ask questions, and connect:

Wednesday 8 July 2026 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Wednesday 12 August 2026 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Wednesday 9 September 2026 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Wednesday 14 October 2026 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Register at https://www.trybooking.com/DJIVY

🗳️ UNIMA Oz AGM

Sun 30 Aug | 3–5pm AEST | Online

Hear what’s been happening and help shape the future of UNIMA Oz.

🎪 Melbourne Festival of Puppetry

22–27 Sept 2026

A full week of puppetry performances, workshops, and events.

🎟️ Program & tickets on sale June 2026

👉 https://www.lemonys.net.au/the-melbourne-festival-of-puppetry

🎃 Spooky Social

Sun 25 Oct | 3–5pm AEST | Online

A Halloween get-together with pumpkin carving, puppets, and spooky fun.

💚 Not a member (or need to renew)?

Membership includes free events, discounted workshops, grants, news, and connection with puppeteers across Australia.

👉 https://www.unima.org.au/membership/

We can’t wait to share another year of puppetry with you.

Created by pioneering Australian puppeteer Peter Scriven, The Tintookies were much-loved marionette characters who toured widely in the late 1950s and 1960s, captivating young audiences across the country.

In this reflective piece, Paul recounts:

• Attending a Tintookies performance at the Playhouse Theatre during the 14th Festival of Perth

• Observing the marionettes and their complex control systems up close

• Spending extended time backstage watching the puppeteers at work

• The lasting impression this experience made on his appreciation of puppetry and theatre

📖 Read the full article here:
https://tdgq.com.au/reflections/the-tintookies/

A lovely read for anyone interested in puppetry history, marionettes, and Australia’s rich performance heritage.

Natasha has been successful in her fellowship application, supporting the expansion of her puppetry practice through international travel and the development of a new puppetry work. With the assistance of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre and support from the WA Government, the fellowship will fund the development of a new work in Perth, as well as travel to three international puppet festivals in May 2026.

As part of this opportunity, Natasha was also successfully accepted into the UNIMA Passport Programme, supporting her participation in the Festival Internazionale dei Burattini e delle Figure – Arrivano dal Mare (Italy) in 2026. The UNIMA Passport Programme is designed to assist artists to attend international puppetry festivals, fostering global exchange, professional development, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Natasha is an emerging director and puppeteer from Perth and a valued member of UNIMA Australia. Her practice spans theatre for young people, puppetry, and performance art, with a particular interest in experimental and avant-garde approaches to traditional forms. She is also deeply committed to accessibility and inclusive creative practices, drawing on her professional experience in disability support to amplify underrepresented voices in the arts.

Natasha has shared her sincere thanks to UNIMA Australia for providing a letter of support for her UNIMA Passport application — a contribution that played a meaningful role in this success.

Opportunities like this highlight the value of the UNIMA Passport Programme, and we encourage members to consider applying to support their own international festival participation.

We look forward to following Natasha’s journey and the new work that will emerge from this exchange, and we wish her every success as plans continue to unfold.

📍 Based in: Perth & Melbourne

📸 Instagram: @tash.pearson

✨ Congratulations, Natasha — we can’t wait to see what’s next!

'Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ opens at GOMA on Saturday 12 September 2026.

Tickets on sale now!

Members enjoy early access plus a complimentary exhibition ticket.

Find out more https://brnw.ch/TheJimHensonCompanyGOMA

QAGOMA is excited to be celebrating the opening of ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ as part of Brisbane Festival in September.

#HensonGOMA #visitbrisbane #thisisqueensland

This exhibition is supported by Strategic Partner Visit Queensland, Australia Visit Brisbane / Major Partner Shayher Group / Industry Partner Screen Queensland / Tourism & Media Partner JCDecaux & Supporting Partners Allpress Espresso & Dulux Australia

Frontline Puppetry is a UNIMA International podcast highlighting artists who create and live in contexts of political conflict, social unrest, war, and humanitarian crisis.

Through intimate conversations, the series shares the lived experiences of puppeteers working on the front lines of adversity — using puppetry as a tool for education, resistance, care, and connection. Their stories remind us how art adapts, survives, and builds bridges in the most challenging circumstances.

Produced by UNIMA’s Commission of Humanitas & Cooperation, the podcast aims to:

• Make visible the realities faced by puppeteers in vulnerable contexts

• Foster international solidarity and cooperation

• Build bridges between artists, institutions, and communities

• Raise awareness across the global UNIMA network

🎧 Episodes

Episode 1: Siavash Sattari (UNIMA Mobarak–Iran)

Episode 2: Mamby Mawine (Djarama, Senegal) — transforming puppetry into education, nature, and hope

💙 Listen, share, and stand in solidarity with fellow puppeteers around the world.

https://www.unima.org/en/humanitas-cooperation-podcast-frontline-puppetry/

I’m pleased to share the call for contributions for issue 60 of Puppetry International, “Flashback to 1966,” which invites perspectives on puppetry and performing objects from around the world. We welcome proposals from practitioners, scholars, writers, and researchers working in diverse contexts and traditions.

Here you will find links to the call in English, French, and Spanish; please feel free to circulate it widely across your networks and regions. Please do not hesitate to be in touch at any time with questions or ideas for potential contributions.

With warm wishes,
Alissa Mello
Editor, Puppetry International

pieditorunimausa@gmail.com

Knowing that dogs are the best medicine, Mabel adopts Bart from the animal shelter to help heal her widowed heart. But Mabel is old, and Bart is young, and not all love can last forever. Suddenly alone, Bart embarks on an urban odyssey of towering hot dog carts, menacing dog-nappers and junkyard camaraderie. A wistful, wordless journey from a dog’s point of view, New Owner melds tender puppetry with spellbinding animation to paint a poignant portrait of friendship, loss and new beginnings.

Nominated for Best Presentation for Children at the 2017 Helpmann Awards (Australia).

Based in Perth, The Last Great Hunt is an internationally renowned, artist-led collective of creators, innovators and explorers. With every new show, the team hunts for new ways to connect audiences all around the world with high-quality original work that is engaging, moving and accessible to all. From large-scale productions to intimate, non-verbal pieces and nimble touring works, The Last Great Hunt ensures that there is a theatrical experience for everyone.

https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/2026/kids-and-families/new-owner

Receive news, events, artist callouts, festival updates and opportunities. We also share occasional collaborative events with UNIMA Aotearoa NZ and other international centres.

Open to members and non-members alike.

Join our mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/721bff46fca8/unima-australia-newsletter-signup

Not a member? Learn more about joining UNIMA Australia here.

The 2nd Village Puppet Festival is inviting artists, makers and curious creatives to be part of a vibrant, community-driven celebration of puppetry in Queensland.

📍 Maleny Theatre Grounds, QLD

🗓 24–25 October 2026

This joyful two-day festival features puppet performances, roving musicians, workshops, market stalls, and a Puppet Parade at the end of each day. Whether you’re an experienced puppeteer or just starting out, this is a welcoming space to develop ideas, share work, and connect with others.

✨ Get involved:

• Perform at the festival

• Join pre-festival workshops

• Create and develop new work

• Simply register your interest — no obligation

The festival is presented by Little Big World Puppet Company (UNIMA Australia members), and is one of only a small number of dedicated puppet festivals in the country.

Applications close 30th June 2026.

💌 Find out more / register interest:

lbwpuppetco@gmail.com

🌐 littlebigworld.com.au

A beautiful opportunity to gather, make, and celebrate puppetry together.

1. Spring Fair November 7 6pm to 9pm

2. the Spring themed

International Food Fair August 16 from 11am to 3pm. She is very interested in multicultural puppets but is intetested to be contacted by available puppeteers. Email:

brenda.hartmire@narrandera.nsw.gov.au

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/4462928493/design-and-make-your-own-automata?ref=shop_home_feat_1&bes=1&sts=1&dd=1&logging_key=b0c2fbdcdc3ffcd6c36f1382edbc0c7a986f42d1%3A4462928493

Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. This is Disney’s THE LION KING, making its triumphant return to Sydney!

More than 124 million people around the world have experienced the awe-inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular – one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage.

https://thelionkingmusical.com.au/tickets/?city=sydney

Blending giant puppetry, live video, storytelling, humour, and up-to-date paleontological science, the production features a menagerie of prehistoric creatures ranging from baby dinosaurs to towering predators. The work continues Erth’s internationally recognised approach to creature puppetry and immersive family theatre.

Upcoming tour dates for Erth’s Dinosaurs include:
• Gold Coast (HOTA) — 25–26 September 2026
• Adelaide Festival Centre — 13–14 November 2026

Alongside the new production, Erth continue touring and presenting works including Erth’s Shark Dive, Dinosaur Zoo, Prehistoric World, Prehistoric Aquarium, ARC, and The Nature of Things, as well as large-scale installations and roving performances.

🌐 https://www.erth.com.au/
📸 @erthvisualphysical

Arts North West On Tour 2026! 

After fabulous tours with The Owl's Apprentice in 2022, A Little Bit of Blue in 2023, The Fish That Wanted to Fly in 2024, and Trinket the Robot in 2025 we're delighted to be returning to the Arts North West Region in 2026! 

Follow Spike the Echidna on a journey, through the world of shadow puppetry, to find out where he belongs... 

Monday 29 June 2026, 10am & 12 pm

Hamilton Performing Arts Centre

Tuesday, 30 June 2026, 11am

Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre

Wednesday 1 July, 2026, 11am

West Gippsland Arts Centre

Thursday 2 July 2026, 10:30am

Gippsland Performing Arts Centre – Little Theatre

Friday 3 July 2026, 11am & 2pm

Knox Community Arts Centre

Saturday 4 July 2026, 10am

Cardinia Cultural Centre

Monday 6 July, 2026, 10am

Montrose Town Hall

Wednesday 8 July 2026, 10:30am

Artrise Sunbury

Friday 10 July, 2026, 10:30am

Phee Broadway Theatre

Wednesday 15 July 2026, 10am & 1pm

Tuggeranong Arts Centre, ACT

Friday 17 July, 2026, 10:30am

PHIVE – Parramatta NSW

5 Parramatta Square

Check out website for more details:

https://jennyellis.com.au/events/

Join today at https://www.unima.org.au/membership/

Follow us on

Instagram @unima_oz

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UnimaOz

The bursary can contribute towards:

✈️ Travel to Melbourne

🎟️ Festival tickets and workshops

🏡 Accommodation (including possible billeting/homestay support)

The official festival program is expected to be released in June, but we’re opening applications now so members can begin preparing their application materials and planning how they would make the most of the festival experience.

Who can apply?

✔️ Current UNIMA Australia members (minimum 2 years continuous membership)

✔️ Based outside Victoria (regional Victorian applicants may be considered where travel is a genuine barrier)

✔️ Australian citizens or permanent residents aged 18+

📅 Applications close: Friday 10 July 2026, 5pm AEST

📣 Applicants notified: Friday 17 July 2026

Whether you’re at the beginning of your puppetry journey or have been working in the artform for many years, this is a wonderful opportunity to expand your skills, connect with colleagues from across Australia, and immerse yourself in a week of puppetry.

ℹ️ More information and eligibility criteria:

https://www.unima.org.au/grants/unima-australia-melbourne-festival-of-puppetry-bursary-2026/

📝 Apply: https://bit.ly/unima-bursary-2026

🎭 Festival information:

https://www.melbournefestivalofpuppetry.com.au

In her reflection, Natasha shares insights into life as a Passport participant, the extraordinary range of puppetry she experienced, and the friendships, professional connections, and international opportunities that emerged from the programme.

“The days were long, but they were filled with conversation, laughter, and opportunities to connect with artists from all over the world.”

If you’ve ever wondered what the UNIMA Passport Programme is like, or are considering applying in the future, Natasha’s reflections provide a wonderful glimpse into this unique international exchange opportunity.

📖 Read Natasha’s full reflection:

https://www.unima.org.au/natasha-pearson-reflects-on-the-international-unima-passport-programme-italy/

🌐 Learn more:

• Arrivano dal Mare Festival: https://www.arrivanodalmare.it/

• UNIMA Passport Programme: https://www.unima.org/en/reminder-unima-festival-passport-programs-in-2026/

The UNIMA Passport Programme supports emerging and early-career puppeteers to attend international festivals, connect with artists from around the world, and engage with the global puppetry community. We encourage UNIMA Australia members to explore this fantastic opportunity and consider applying for future rounds.

Have you participated in a UNIMA Passport Programme or international festival exchange? We’d love to hear about your experience!

Two boys navigate the highs and lows of childhood friendship and the strange consequences of a set of mysterious rules.

Tender, funny, and beautifully strange, Rules of Summer explores growing up through friendship, imagination, and the small rituals that hold us together.

DATES: 4 – 18 July
TIMES: 10am & 1pm daily (excl. Sundays)
LOCATION: Centenary Pavilion, Claremont Showground

Tickets are selling fast, book now!

Book tickets:

https://aupuppet.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/160770

You are invited to  -

ELEMENTAL- An Adventure in Paper! from the HOME program

Dates - Sat 11^th & Sun 12^th July

Times 10am-12pm & 1- 3pm each day 

2 hr sessions – stay as long as you like to explore each different area!

Family Ticket $10 - 2 adults & 2 children

Thanks to support by the WA Government, Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport & Healthway - Creativity & Wellbeing for Young people fund

Book tickets here - https://events.humanitix.com/home-elemental-world-t2

ELEMENTAL is an artist-led site-specific children & family project for all ages and abilities, facilitating and supporting a child led, play based installation for family engagement.

Journey through an interactive installation where you can explore, perform and play.

ELEMENTAL turns 4 spaces in the Wetlands Centre into an innovative installation with arts and play activities inspired by the four main elements – earth, fire, air and water.

Everything is made with paper, recycling our throwaways into a paper world adventure with colour & pattern inspiring play, storytelling, sound, movement, projections - the possibilities are endless!

Over Term 2 children & carers have been creating & experimenting with different kinds of paper, making together to transform the Wetlands Centre into a series of fantastical sets where each element comes alive with art play and hands-on activities.

Every ELEMENTAL area has 'Creation Stations' to build what you can imagine, with local artists facilitating creative play & sensory engagement, adding to the installation, with an exhibition of children's art from across the HOME program workshops.

• EARTH - Make a flower for the tissue garden with storytelling, puppetime and percussion

• WATER - Feel silver whirlpools, swim with the fish and add to our watery poems

• FIRE - See the world of shadows, create shadow puppets & tell stories in the fiery cave

• AIR - Come over the rainbow, fly a kite or a paper plane and wave your flag

'Nature is not a place to visit , it is HOME'    

Come HOME to the Wetlands!

Produced & developed by creative learning artist Rachel Riggs in collaboration with Rickeeta Walley, Lakshmi Kanchi, Kate Hannah & Roe Kanchi & the Cockburn Wetlands Centre.

✨ What you’ll do:

• Design and make your own shadow puppets

• Learn the basics of shadow theatre performance

• Explore light, movement and visual storytelling

• Finish with a sharing of participants’ work

🗓 Dates: Saturday 4 July & Saturday 11 July

🕥 Time: 10:30 am – 1:00 pm

📍 Venue: Nambour Puppet Studio (address provided upon registration)

👥 Only 6 places available

💲 Cost: $70 per person

🎨 All materials provided

🔗 Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/DNAIC

📧 Enquiries: lbwpuppetco@gmail.com

☎️ Phone: (07) 5476 4376

Suitable for older teens and adults. Participants should be aged 8 years and over. Tutor holds a Blue Card, Public Liability Insurance and ABN.

✨ When ordinary objects become extraordinary storytellers

UNIMA Puppeteers Trust India warmly invites you to an online interactive session with

CHOITI GHOSH

Pioneer of Object Theatre in India

Artistic Director, Tram Arts Trust

(Director, performer, mentor, and writer) Choiti Ghosh has played a pioneering role in developing Object Theatre practices in India. Her work has travelled nationally and internationally, with artistic and research engagements in France, Germany, and the UK.

📅 12 July 2026 (Sunday)

🕒 3:00 PM IST

💻 Live on Zoom

🎙 Live interaction and discussion

🎟 Prior registration required.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7oJlZMGJRQyJjUkrWCIZ8w

📅 Session 2: Documenting & Archiving Puppets

Date: Saturday, 11 July 2026 (International)

How do we preserve an art form that exists through movement, performance, memory and human connection?

The UNIMA International Heritage Commission invites puppeteers, researchers, museum professionals, archivists, conservators, students and anyone interested in cultural heritage to join this international webinar exploring how we can document, preserve and share puppetry heritage for future generations.

This session examines the challenges and opportunities of documenting puppets and archives across different cultural contexts, featuring presentations from international experts working in conservation, museums, audiovisual archives, photography and research.

Speakers

🎭 Mehdi Garrigues & Samuel Kaczorowski

Drawing and the Challenges of Creation and Preservation

📚 Delphine Bois

Documenting Puppets at the Documentation and Collections Centre of the Pôle International de la Marionnette – Jacques Félix

🛠️ Oséias de Souza

The Conservation and Restoration of Puppets at the Museu da Marioneta, Lisbon

📷 Constantine Korsovitis

A Life in Shadows: Documenting and Archiving Puppets Across Cultures

This webinar follows Session 1 (held on 11 April 2026), which explored the material, digital and cultural dimensions of conserving puppetry heritage.

🔗 Register: https://forms.gle/uMd5NJPjxFBgB5kW8

🌐 More information about the webinar series:

https://www.unima.org/en/conserving-archiving-exhibiting-puppets/

✉️ Enquiries: heritage@unima.org

📍 Newcastle Museum

🗓 4 July – 1 November 2026

For many Australians, Mr Squiggle is a treasured part of childhood. This delightful new exhibition celebrates the extraordinary creativity of Norman Hetherington, the puppeteer, artist and creator behind one of Australia’s most beloved television characters.

Visitors can see an incredible collection of original handcrafted puppets, including Mr Squiggle, Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel and Gus the Snail, alongside Norman Hetherington’s wartime artwork, sketches and colourful stage props. The exhibition also features an interactive squiggle drawing activity, inviting visitors of all ages to create their own imaginative masterpieces.

Drawn from the Norman Hetherington Collection at the National Museum of Australia, this travelling exhibition offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Australia’s rich puppetry heritage and introduce a new generation to the magic of Mr Squiggle.

If you’re visiting Newcastle between now and November, this exhibition is well worth adding to your itinerary!

🔗 More information: https://newcastlemuseum.com.au/exhibitions-events/exhibitions/mr-squiggle-and-friends

📍 Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
🗓 2–19 July 2026

Puppetry, light and prehistoric adventure come together in Universal Kingdom: Ice Age, one of the standout experiences of Illuminate Adelaide 2026.

Created by acclaimed Australian theatre company Erth Visual & Physical Inc. in collaboration with illuminart and After Dark Theatre, this immersive after-dark experience transforms Adelaide Zoo into a spectacular frozen world inhabited by giant puppets, glowing landscapes and ancient creatures.

Visitors can encounter towering Woolly Mammoths, Sabre-Toothed Tigers, prehistoric birds and even dinosaurs, brought to life through large-scale puppetry, lighting, sound and interactive installations. Designed for audiences of all ages, the experience celebrates the power of visual storytelling and the magic of puppetry on an epic scale.

If you're in Adelaide this July, this is a wonderful opportunity to experience contemporary Australian puppetry in an immersive outdoor setting.

🔗 Learn more and book tickets: https://www.illuminateadelaide.com/program/season-2026/universal-kingdom-ice-age

Browse the full program now.

Download the festival timetable and get planning on your festival adventure.

The Melbourne Festival of Puppetry

https://www.melbournefestivalofpuppetry.com.au/

22 September 2026 - 27 September 2026

See you there!!

🗓 9–18 July 2026

If you’re in Perth this July, don’t miss Same Time Next Week—an award-winning puppet musical that combines humour, heart and fantasy in a deeply moving story about friendship.

When Mark is diagnosed with leukaemia, his only wish between chemotherapy sessions is to play Dungeons & Dragons with his closest friends. As they navigate mythical quests filled with goblins, necromancers and magical creatures, they are also confronted with the realities of illness, grief and the enduring power of imagination.

Winner of eight Performing Arts WA Awards, including Best Production, Outstanding New Work and Outstanding Direction, this production is a celebration of friendship, storytelling and the joy of play. Featuring an outstanding ensemble of Perth puppeteers, Same Time Next Week is a beautiful example of how puppetry can tell deeply human stories with warmth, humour and creativity.

Whether you’re a seasoned D&D player or completely new to the game, this production promises laughter, tears and unforgettable puppetry.

We're pumped to announce the works that will feature as part of this year's THE DPS LAB with @The Princess Theatre, Brisbane on 19th August.

Canvas! (Sebastian Sorensen)

Grab your paintbrush! Inspired by shows like Blue Man Group, STOMP, and GEAR, enter a cluttered art studio in the world of Canvas!, where musical theatre meets the visual arts! Follow a colourful cast of artists on their non-verbal journey to paint a masterpiece, through the magic of live percussion and collaboration. Each character brings their strengths and weaknesses to the show - learning to embrace each other’s true colours, to create something greater than themselves. Comprised of four drummers, Canvas! invites audiences to immerse themselves in a kaleidoscopic world of colours and original music for an unforgettable performance!

Splish, Splash, Splosh (Stephen Quinn & Brymore Productions)

Dive into a whimsical world of underwater wonder with Splish, Splash, Splosh. Three funny fish set out to find their school in a shifting aquatic world, filled to the brim with clowning, puppetry and sensory surprises.

Equal parts ridiculous and beautiful, Splish, Splash, Splosh is a joyful visual comedy for all ages that explores what it means to belong - in a very fishy way.

KILL THE GODS (Fake Blood)

Mankind was made to worship, we create idols and myths of exceptional people with extraordinary talent, etching their names into history. On the Isles of Iricles every inhabitant worships the Gods, celebrating their glory. All except Odessa, after her brother is taken as a sacrifice to the gods, she makes a violent and bloody vow. “By the dawn of the new sun I will save you brother, and I will kill the gods!”. KILL THE GODS is a work in development by Fake Blood that explores celebrity culture and power, through myths of gods and monsters.

Join us for a night of experimental design-led theatre.

https://www.deadpuppetsociety.com.au/the-dps-lab

Developed in collaboration with First Nations artists from across Australia, First Kingdoms celebrates First Nations storytelling through spectacular creature and light installations. Each work reflects a unique artistic voice, bringing together traditional knowledge and contemporary creative practice in an immersive cultural experience.

This special preview event takes place at the A Blanck Canvas workshop in Preston, where visitors can:

• Explore the workshop where the giant creatures are created.

• Meet the creative team behind the project.

• Enjoy an evening of conversation and light refreshments.

• Learn about the vision for First Kingdoms as it evolves into a touring cultural experience connecting communities across Australia through art, storytelling and spectacle.

📅 Friday 14 August, 6:00–9:00pm

📍 Preston, Victoria

🔗 More information and tickets: Humanitix event page

📅 2–6 March 2027

In March 2027, Montréal will proudly host the Council of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette (UNIMA), bringing together representatives from many countries to discuss the major artistic, professional, and institutional issues shaping the future of puppetry worldwide.

As UNIMA’s governing body between two World Congresses, the Council plays a very important role in guiding the organization’s development and strategic direction.

Hosted by UNIMA Canada and organized in collaboration with Festival international de Casteliers, this international gathering prepared by the AQM - l'association des marionnettistes québécois - will welcome delegates, artists, researchers, educators, cultural leaders, and puppetry professionals from across the globe for a week of dialogue, collaboration, and celebration.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲:

𝗘𝗡: https://www.unima.org/en/unima-council-2027/

𝗙𝗥: https://www.unima.org/fr/conseil-unima-2027/

𝗘𝗦: https://www.unima.org/es/consejo-unima-2027/

Running from Tuesday 29 September to Saturday 3 October, the Festival is expanding to three metropolitan hubs. The Perth Cultural Centre precinct (home to the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, WA Museum Boola Bardip, and the State Library of Western Australia), Yagan Square, and Barking Gecko Arts' home at the Subiaco Arts Centre. The Festival also travels to regional WA throughout October, with hubs in Kununurra, Albany, Beverley and Bunbury.

The 2026 program features two world premieres, Walk of the Whales, Barking Gecko Arts' new adaptation of Nick Bland's award-winning picture book, and Snuggleplay by Sensorium Theatre, created especially for babies with disabilities. Plus international artists from Scotland and the Netherlands, free outdoor concerts, zebra-led Beyoncé dance parties, giant lizards, clown librarians, and the return of Stellarphant by James Foley Books.

And to make sure every family can come along, all ticketed events are just $10.

The full festival program will be released online in late August, with the exact go-live date to be confirmed. Stay tuned for further updates.

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Artwork elements by Jasmine Berry

https://barkinggecko.com.au/awesome-festival

Animal Dreams is a compelling, sensorially considerate exhibition that recognises the importance of cross-species connection through imaginative empathy, and playful approaches to the unknown… with puppets!

A Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Altitude exhibition

https://bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au/exhibition/animal-dreams-bria-mccarthy/