Bristol Festival of Puppetry

Season

Please note : this season finished in Aug 2015

With over 100 artists performing, 50 live performances including world premieres and a heap of free events and activities, the Festival of Puppetry (Wed 26 Aug – Sun 6 Sept), a key event in Bristol's cultural diary, is visiting Watershed for the very first time.

The international biennial Bristol Festival of Puppetry welcomes artists from all over the world, running workshops in everything from stop-frame animation to object theatre and process giant puppets through the street in a Community Carnival. The Puppet Place team are dedicated to bringing the best of puppetry from around the world to Bristol and showcasing the wealth of talent in the UK.

Working in partnership with multiple venues, as well as Watershed the festival venues include Tobacco Factory Theatres, Brunel’s ss Great Britain, Arnolfini and M Shed, all of which will be presenting a rich and diverse programme of live performance, films, installations, workshops, talks and more for all ages.

Watershed’s programme includes screenings and ‘in conversation’ events with artists including the Quay Brothers, iconic artists working in independent cinema, who talk about their rich portfolio of work that spans contemporary filmmaking, plus special events on award winning Barry Purves and the legendary Ivor Wood, a pioneer of stop-motion animation who created iconic characters such as Postman Pat and The Wombles.

Other free events across the city include an intriguing installation by the Quay Brothers on Redcliffe Bridge, a game of MASSIVE Battleships on Brunel Square, and a delightful show at M Shed and Arnolfini where unwanted domestic appliances are transformed into mechanical animals.

For full programme details see bristolfestivalofpuppetry.org

Tickets: free - £9.00


Previous screenings & events in this season

Puppets on Screen 2: Darkness

classified 12A S Puppetry Festival
Puppets on Screen 2: Darkness
Please note: This was screened in Aug 2015
Film

This second collection of shorts is a dynamic mix of animated and live-action films, delving deeper into the psyche of the puppet. From the notion of creation, to the death of a puppet, we discover the complex and nuanced subjects artists are approaching through puppets on screen.

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story

classified 12A Puppetry Festival
Puppet Vision: I am Big Bird
Please note: This was screened in Aug 2015
Film

This heart-warming documentary chronicles the life of Caroll Spinney, the man who has been Sesame Street's Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since 1969.

DIY Pupperty: Stop Motion on a Shoestring with Mary Murphy
Please note: This event took place in Aug 2015
Workshop

Want to build a stop motion puppet using affordable materials and film it in action? During this practical and fun, all-day workshop Mary Murphy, resident artist at Puppet Place and freelance model maker and animator, will guide you through the process step by step.

Handmade Puppet Dreams Volume VI

classified 12A Puppetry Festival
Handmade Puppet Dreams
Please note: This was screened in Aug 2015
Film

A programme of independent artists’ short films exploring the craft and storytelling of live-action puppetry.

BFP+: Masterclass with Barry Purves
Please note: This event took place in Aug 2015
Workshop

This masterclass will explore some of creative techniques and skills involved in directing animation and puppetry on film and an opportunity to experience first hand the directing process with a master of the art of puppetry - Barry Purves.

Barry Purves Retrospective + In Conversation

classified 12A Puppetry Festival
Barry Purves Retrospective + In Conversation
Please note: This was screened in Aug 2015
Film

In this special retrospective we take a look back over the work and examine the creative process of one of Britain's most eminent animators - Barry Purves.

Ivor Wood: An Animated Celebration

classified PG Puppetry Festival
Ivor Wood: An Animated Celebration
Please note: This was screened in Aug 2015
Film

Ivor Wood was a pioneer of stop-motion animation and an unsung hero of British children’s television. The prolific Anglo-French animator created many iconic programmes including The Herbs, The Wombles, Paddington and Postman Pat.

Rod Burnett's Orginal Punch and Judy Show
Please note: This event took place in Aug 2015
Event

Mr Punch made his first appearance in London in 1662 (according to Samuel Pepys). He has been delighting audiences with his incorrigible antics ever since.

Continental Kids

classified PG S Puppetry Festival
Continental Kids
Please note: This was screened in Aug 2015
Film

This colourful selection of European films, old and new, offers up enchanting stories and magical characters sure to entertain and inspire the next generation.

Animation Workshop
Please note: This event took place in Aug 2015
Workshop

A workshop full of fun and mischief: Inspired by our screenings for families – Continental Kids and Ivor Wood – join in and we’ll help you create your own character and bring it to life on film.

Puppets on Screen 1: Lightness

classified 12A Puppetry Festival
Puppets on Screen 1: Lightness
Please note: This was screened in Aug 2015
Film

This vibrant programme featuring films bursting with hope, colour and unexpected twists explores a multitude of cinematic approaches to puppet-led storytelling, through both stop-motion animation and live-action puppetry.

Bristol Festival of Pupperty Opening Party
Please note: This event took place in Aug 2015
Event

Help us get the Bristol Festival of Puppetry started in grand style, with pop up puppets and animation including The Hickboo, Lionel The Vinyl and a few surprise guests - all in the Café/Bar.

The Paper Cinema
Please note: This was screened in Aug 2015
Film

Puppet show, cinema and slideshow converge with a mix of live animation and music as the Paper Cinema team present three of their lovingly crafted earlier works just for the festival.

The Quay Brothers Retrospective + In Conversation
Please note: This was screened in Aug 2015
Film

A retrospective of the visionary, surreal work of identical twins Stephen and Timothy Quay - followed by a rare opportunity to hear them talk about their life and career.

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