Making its highly anticipated return this August, the biennial Bristol Festival of Puppetry masterfully celebrates the world of puppetry on stage and screen the world over – and is the only English event to do so.
This year not only marks the fourth edition of the festival, but also its significant growth and expansion since its 2009 beginnings, with a wider, citywide programme taking in theatre performances, workshops, film screenings and, of course, the huge puppet parade.
A showcase of the best and most exciting corners of the international puppetry industry, the festival's film programme opens with The Quay Brothers Retrospecive and In Conversation at Watershed on 27 August, which sees two of the most influential stop-motion filmmakers of today discussing their eclectic portfolio of work in independent cinema.
Many of their films feature little to no dialogue, meaning the viewer is left to soak up the dreamy, trippy worlds created through sound and motion - something you'll be able to do on the day with screenings of their short films 'Maksa', 'In Absentia', 'Stille Nachte III' and 'Street Of Crocodiles'.
And, if you can’t make it to that, luckily the duo will be unveiling an installation piece on Redcliffe Bascule Bridge in the Control Room, where what was once a disused space will be transformed into something a whole lot more intriguing, using objects that play with the arc of the sun from dawn to dusk.
"Maska" by Quay Brothers (Trailer) from Se-Ma-For Studio on Vimeo.
The festival will also pay homage to the career of Oscar and BAFTA-nominated animation director Barry Purves, who uses puppetry to explore themes of history, sexuality, language and music.
Join Purves in conversation on Saturday 29 August at Watershed, where you’ll also get to catch a selection of his short films from across the decades, ‘Next’, ’Screen Play’, ‘Achilles’, ‘Plume’ and ‘Tchaikovsky - An Elegy’.
And if these spark your interest, you can get more involved yourself by signing up to his BFP+ masterclass taking place the following day, where Purves will talk participants through the techniques and skills involved in directing animation and puppetry on film.
Tchaikovsky Timelapse from joe clarke on Vimeo.
Elsewhere, at the Tobacco Factory you’ll find various theatre productions throughout the duration of the festival, including ‘The Owl And The Pussycat’s Treasury Of Nonsense’, ‘Coulrophobia’, ‘Cake’ and a free performance from The Smoking Puppet Cabaret each evening between Friday 28 and Sunday August 30 in the bar area.
Arguably, though, the biggest reason to head south of the river is for the festival's focal carnival. Bringing North Street to life on Saturday August 29, you can also get involved yourself with carnival workshops in the week leading up to the event.
Coulrophobia Teaser Trailer from Pickled Image on Vimeo.
Other highlights also include The Puppetry Network, a conversation between artists, programmers and producers about puppetry on Wednesday September 2 at Puppet Place, an animated celebration of stop-motion animation pioneer and hero of children's TV Ivor Wood on Sunday August 30 at Watershed, along with a game of giant Battleships on Brunel Square!
Photo: Smoking Puppet Cabaret