Every other weekend we round up puppetry opportunities and puppetry news from English speaking media around the world. Here’s a quick look at some of what’s been happening lately in the world of puppetry:
Africa & The Middle East
Josh Selig reflects on the failure of Rechov Sumsum/Shara’a Simsim, the 1990s Israeli-Palestinian Sesame Street co-production.
Palestinian puppeteer Yousef al-Hindi is creating puppetry in the midst of the war in Gaza.
Asia
Fan Zheng’an is keeping the tradition of Mount Tai shadow puppetry alive in Eastern China.
Pakkay Dost, a Pakistani children’s series using puppetry to promote the Urdu language, is about to start filming its second series.
Anupama Hoskere has been awarded the Padma Shri – India’s fourth-highest civilian award – for her dedication to preserving traditional Indian puppetry.
The 20th edition of the Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival is taking place February 16th – 25th in New Dehli and Chandigarh.
Varuna, which bills itself as “Indonesia’s First Underwater Theatrical Show and Dining Experience” features a unique combination of music, dance, paper animation, and traditional wayang kulit shadow puppetry.
Mulat Theatre’s renowned Filipino adaptation of The Little Prince is returning to the stage in Manilla.
Europe
The 17th edition of Manipulate Festival is taking place in Scotland until February 11th.
A life size a hyena puppet by Jodie Jew Yates is featured in a new exhibit of work by emerging British stage designers at the National Theatre in London.
Some of the UK’s leading puppetry theatre companies will be performing at the inaugural Smethwick Puppetry Festival February 11th – 18th in the West Midlands.
London Northeast Rail has launched a new ad campaign featuring their new puppet mascot, Eleanor.
The Bristol Post calls Life of Pi at the Bristol Hippodrome a “stunning spectacle”.
New York-based Phil Soltanoff and Steven Wendt are bringing their shadow puppetry to MimeLondon in February.
Puppets in Prague founder Mirek Trejtnar has published a brand new book on the craft of marionette making entitled Puppet Technology.
North America
One of the biggest things on TikTok right now is Nanalan’, a twenty year old Canadian TV show.
The Jim Henson Foundation has announced the recipients of their 2024 grants for puppet theater in the United States.
In possibly the week’s weirdest news, American comedian Larry David spontaneously attacked Elmo from Sesame Street on live television.
A look at some of the best things from the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival this year.
Schroeder Cherry is performing Civil Rights Children Crusade at City Lore Gallery in New York City on February 10th.
America’s Got Talent’ alum Abigail Baird brought her unique fusion of animation, aerial acrobatics, and puppetry to Rojofest at the University of Connecticut last weekend.
Calls For Entry
UNIMA is currently seeking puppetry videos for the 2024 World Puppetry Day video.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 World Festival of Puppet Theatre in Charleville-Mézières, France.
The 2024 TheatreAir Street Arts Festival is now accepting applications from artists interested in performing in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
The 47th edition of Café Concret in Montreal, Canada is seeking short experimental puppetry and performing object performances and works-in-progress for their next live cabaret on March 16th.
Applications are open for the Puppetry eXploratory Laboratory program at the Toronto School of Puppetry in Toronto, Canada.
Puppet Festival Mississauga in Ontario, Canada is currently seeking acts for its puppet slam on March 14th. Email puppeteertaylor ( at ) gmail dot com for details.
Registration is still open for The Glorious Ladies of Puppetry’s 48 Hour Puppet Film Competition, which takes place February 9th – 11th.
Job Opportunities
Art Camp UK is currently looking for Creative Practitioners with puppetry experience to teach in Leeds and Yorkshire during school holidays.
The University of Calgary is hiring sessional Instructors with puppetry experience to teach in its School of Creative and Performing Arts in Alberta, Canada.
Sundog Theater is currently seeking a part-time Puppetry Teaching Artist in Staten Island, New York.
Cirque du Soleil is currently hiring a Costume Character Artisan in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jurassic World: The Exhibition is hiring experienced puppeteers for its upcoming exhibit in Katy, Texas.
Workshops and Training Opportunities
Tim Gosley is hosting a Muppet Style 101 foam puppet construction workshop in Victoria, B.C. February 17th – 18th. Email timgosley ( at ) telus.net for details.
The Center for Puppetry Arts is hosting a special online design and puppetry online workshop in partnership with Concrete Temple Theatre that explores the using rattan in pupetry on February 6th.
Puppet Pie has upcoming online video puppetry workshops for beginners with Stacey Gordon and intermediate level video puppet coaching with Michael Schupbach on February 17th.
Registration is now open for the 2024 Puppets in Prague workshops in the Czech Republic (a scholarship is available).
Acclaimed puppet carver Vladimir Sosna is offering his puppet carving course in English for the first time August 2nd – 11th near Plzen in the Czech Republic.
Andrew Kim is teaching a giant puppet masterclass at Animal Cracker Conspiracy in San Diego, California February 29 – March 10th.
