Few regular theatre-goers get down to the coalface of puppetry to see what’s going on. Perhaps there’s a feeling that it’s a form that belongs to childhood or that it is somehow not serious and that having reached man’s estate it was time to ‘put away childish things’. But if that was the case here it never was on the continent and most definitely is not anymore particularly in Bristol, which is the de facto centre of British puppetry. On Spike Island the Puppet Place alone is home to fifteen separate companies with associated workshops and has connections to some two hundred other outfits nationwide. If you needed an example of a ‘hub’, this is it.

The claim to be taken seriously is evidenced by the involvement of some of Bristol’s most prestigious arts venues in the forthcoming festival: The Tobacco Factory, The Watershed, The M Shed, The Arnolfini, the SS Great Britain. Which is not to say there won’t be a goodly number of family orientated events as well.

One of the great strengths of contemporary puppetry is its innovation and fearless willingness to take on any kind of subject with an imaginative attack few theatre companies can rival. This year’s festival is a truly international affair and promises to offer some of the most powerful storytelling to be found in any medium. The festival will include live puppetry shows, animation and workshops all crammed into a very short two weeks.   Graham Wyles    02/07/15

BRISTOL FESTIVAL OF PUPPETRY 2015 runs from 26th August – 6th September. Click here for full details