Smethwick Puppetry Festival 2025
15th–23rd February 2025 | A Must-See Celebration of Creativity and Wonder!
Hey fellow puppet lovers!
If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for new places to experience the magic of puppetry – the thrill of seeing those characters come to life on stage, the intricacies of masterful puppetry, and the joy of watching those puppets tell their stories. Well, I’ve got something super exciting to share – the Smethwick Puppetry Festival 2025! And let me tell you, this one is shaping up to be absolutely unmissable.
Taking place during the February half-term (15th–23rd, 2025), this festival is a celebration of all things puppetry. It’s the perfect event for those of us who can’t get enough of puppets – whether you’re into viewing performances, making your own creations, or just generally basking in the glorious puppet magic. Best part? The festival is held at 10 amazing community venues in Smethwick, and it’s pay what you can – which means it’s accessible to everyone. 🙌
But what can you expect? Let me take you through some of the exciting highlights that will have you scrambling to grab your tickets once they go live in January!
Opening Celebration – Join the Fun!
Saturday 15th February 2025 | 6:30pm
Venue: Thimblemill Library
Admission: FREE!
Meet some of the incredible puppeteers behind the magic! Featuring Sarah Vigars from Flying With Strings, Marc Parrett of The Object Project and Grandly Strange Puppet Theatre, and local legend Lori Hopkins. They'll be talking about their puppet-making journeys, answering your questions, and then share a sneak peek at the fantastic automata exhibition at Thimblemill Library. You don’t want to miss this celebration of all things puppetry.
Performances
🦜 Flying With Strings
By Sarah Vigars
Saturday 15th February 2025 | 3pm & 4pm (30 minutes)
Venue: Bear Bookshop
Admission: Pay What You Can | Age 1+
It’s a bird, it’s a plane... No, it’s Flying with Strings! Puppeteer Sarah Vigars teams up with musician Louis Bingham for a delightful show that combines intricate marionette puppetry and live music. Prepare to be swooped away into the magical world of birds – from swallows to hoopoes, and a bee-eater or two! Get ready for some feathered fun.
More info and Booking
Suitcase Stories - The Little Toy
By Freda O'Byrne, presented by Tragic Carpet
Saturday 15th February 2025 | 2pm (30 minutes)
Venue: Smethwick Heritage Centre
Admission: Pay What You Can | Age 3-5
What happens when Little Toy gets left behind on a beach? Well, a butterfly swoops in to help him, but not before a sea monster gets involved! This adorable show is a treat for little ones, exploring friendship, adventure, and the magic of imagination.
More info and Booking
🦜 Flying With Strings
By Sarah Vigars
Sunday 16th February 2025 | 11am (30 mins show + 45 mins workshop)
Venue: Smethwick Library
Admission: Pay What You Can | Age 1+
This show gets a double whammy on Sunday with both a marionette performance and a fun puppet-making workshop. Learn about birds, puppets, and how to bring a character to life with Sarah Vigars’ guidance.
More info and Booking
Beached
By Strangeface
Sunday 16th February 2025 | 11am-12pm / 1-2pm / 3-4pm (15 mins)
Venue: West Smethwick Park Pavilion
Admission: Pay What You Can | Age 2+
A puppet, a table, and a big adventure... what more could you ask for? Join Arnold on a quirky journey to the beach that turns into a wild and funny monster-filled escapade. It’s a quick but heart-warming 15-minute treat for the whole family!
The Giant Who Slept For 10,000 Years
By Bori Mezo
Monday 17th February 2025 | 3pm (30 minutes)
Venue: St Hilda’s Church
Admission: Pay What You Can | Age 3+
A giant is about to wake up from a 10,000-year nap! This is a storytelling puppet show like no other, featuring a sea troll, an earthquake, and an epic adventure through time. A perfect blend of wonder and whimsy for all ages!
Anansi and the Lost Sun
By Swallow’s Wings Puppetry
Tuesday 18th February 2025 | 2pm (50 minutes)
Venue: Smethwick Library
Admission: Pay What You Can | Age 4+
Anansi the Spider is on a mission to bring back the sun in this funny and inspiring West African tale. Full of puppetry and traditional music, it's a great way to introduce little ones to the wonders of multicultural folklore!
Nutcracker in Spring
By Lori Hopkins
Wednesday 19th February 2025
Location: Lightwoods House
A fresh new interpretation of the classic tale, Nutcracker in Spring brings the beloved festive story into the warmth of springtime. Follow Clara as she receives a quirky nutcracker from her odd relative, which magically transforms into a Prince. This delightful show features ballet-dancing puppets, a sinister Mouse King, and a magical journey full of surprises. Perfect for families to enjoy together!
More info and Booking
The Tale of Nobody Nose
By Goofus Theatre
Thursday 20th February 2025
Location: Brushstrokes Community Project
Join three clowns—Boz, Yolo, and Flo—on a whimsical journey to find a red nose in this delightful, wordless show. Traveling across land, sea, and skies, these clowns embark on an epic adventure filled with magic, snowball fights, and heart-warming moments. This accessible, fun-filled production celebrates the joy of puppetry and will have audiences of all ages laughing and rediscovering their childlike wonder.
More info and Booking
The Stuff of Life
By The Object Project
Friday 21st February 2025
Location: Thimblemill Library
A hilarious yet existential exploration of life’s daily struggles, The Stuff of Life tells the story of loving, living, and dying through the perspective of household objects. This darkly comedic show from The Object Project will leave you laughing, reflecting, and perhaps questioning the very fabric of existence, all through the antics of beleaguered kitchen paraphernalia.
More info and Booking
tiny clown's BIG adventure
By Grandly Strange Puppet Theatre
Saturday 22nd February 2025
Location: Dorothy Parkes Centre
Join tiny clown on an adventure that takes them straight into the pages of a book! This quirky, fun-filled show is about discovery, imagination, and a little bit of mischief. Featuring the best monster made out of a lampshade, plus some Jabberwock poo, this performance is perfect for younger audiences who love a good dose of silliness and absurdity.
🎨 Workshops Galore: Create Your Own Puppet!
Okay, so we all love to watch puppets in action, but what about making our own? The Smethwick Puppetry Festival also offers a bunch of hands-on workshops for all ages and skill levels! Whether you’re a seasoned puppet maker or a complete newbie, there’s something for everyone:
Fish Puppet Making with Lori Hopkins
Toy Puppet Theatre Making with Hopeful Monster Theatre
And many more!
Workshops are also pay what you can, so you can join in the fun and learn to make your own puppet creations without worrying about the cost. Whether you want to make a simple cardboard puppet or something more elaborate, these workshops are a great way to get creative and immerse yourself in the art of puppetry.
More info and Booking
Why You Need to Go!
With an exciting variety of puppet performances, interactive workshops, and community vibes, it’s a perfect way to dive deeper into the world of puppetry.
The fact that it’s held in community spaces means it’s a more intimate, personal way to connect with puppeteers and fellow lovers of the craft. And with the “pay what you can” model, it’s incredibly accessible, meaning more people can join in the magic.
Mark your calendars, grab your tickets when they’re available in January, and get ready for a festival that celebrates the artistry, whimsy, and joy that puppetry brings to our lives.
For full details on events, venues, and booking information, make sure to check out the official Smethwick Puppetry Festival website.