Upfront Gallery Puppet Theatre - Previous Productions

Visit the location of Upfront Puppet Theatre to see the exhibition and demonstration/performance of puppets from our collection, as well as puppets from other collections. These include puppets from around the world and puppets relating to the history and development of puppetry in Great Britain - notably "The Stan Parker Collection of Marionettes and Trick Circus Puppets", purchased with the aid of a Heritage Lottery Grant.

There will be workshops where adults and children can make puppets and explore them in short performances. The history of Punch and Judy in England will also be told.

Please note that this event and the workshops are not suitable for children under 7 years of age.

Opening Times:

Thursday 10 September: 10:30-4:30

Friday 11 September: 10:30-4:30

Saturday 12 September: Workshop 11:00-3.30pm

Sunday 13 September: Workshop 11:00-3:30

Advance booking is required for the workshops as numbers are limited to 20 for each session.

Tel. 017684 84538 or email info@up-front.com to reserve places.

Children must be age 7+ and accompanied by an adult.

A traditional marionette performance, by Upfront Puppet Theate, based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen.

A nightingale sings and charms the Emperor, until a mechanical bird takes its place. When the mechanical bird explodes, the real nightingale returns to sing on its own terms. It is free and sings of the beauty that it sees in the natural world in which it lives.

This is a beautiful and lyrical production with Chinese flute music by Yue Guo.

Children £8.50 Adults £9.50. Performances 30th July - 28th August. Every Thursday and Sunday at 2pm and every Friday at 1:30pm & 3:30pm. Additional shows may be added as necessary.

The show lasts approx 1.5 hours with an interval in the middle. Meet the puppets and puppeteers after the 2pm and 3:30pm performances.

A multi award winning puppet show by Puppet State Theatre Company, Edinburgh.

Suitable for adults & children aged 7 years and over.

Tickets: Adults £9.00 Children £8.00. Performance begins at 2pm and lasts for 65 minutes.

"Laughs, heartbreak, war, regeneration, scented breezes, sparkling wit and the best dog puppet ever. Perfect for children and grown-ups. Terrific" (The Guardian).

This multi-sensory theatrical adaptation of Jean Giono’s environmental classic tells the inspiring story of a shepherd who plants a forest, acorn by acorn, transforming a barren wasteland. As much a touching tale as it is a hilarious puppet show, "The Man Who Planted Trees" shows us the difference one man (and his dog!) can make to the world.

The show has toured to schools, village halls, theatres and festivals across the UK and Ireland as well as in Malaysia, Bermuda, the Netherlands, USA, Canada and Australia including performances off Broadway at the New Victory Theatre and repeat visits to the Sydney Opera House and New York’s Lincoln Center Institute.

THIS SHOW IS TO CELEBRATE THE NEWLY RESTORED FOOTPATH BETWEEN SKELTON & UNTHANK

If you would like a joint ticket (£16) to see the puppet show at 2pm and the "Stooshie" concert at 8pm, please contact us. Stooshie information is under "future events" on the website.