Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Puppet Animation Festival
Every Easter The Brunton at Musselburgh and ELC Arts Service bring the Puppet Animation Festival, the UK’s largest performing arts event for children, to East Lothian. These imaginative and playful, high quality performances and workshops are ideal for primary school age children and usually take place in venues across the county.
This year the Puppet Animation Festival is going online with two fabulous performances to watch through The Brunton’s website and two fun workshops to take part in via Zoom.
The Incredible Tale of Robot Boy (Theatre Rites) will be on Saturday 10 April at 11.30am & 2pm for ages 8 plus.
In the most extraordinary high-tech laboratory, a team of the world's top scientists are attempting the impossible, to create a robot with a real brain. Their aim is to push the boundaries of scientific discovery. They succeed and Robot Boy is born. A poetic story about humanity, responsibility and life with dazzling puppetry, interactive film and performance.
Theatre-Rites is one of the UK's leading theatre companies, known for their puppetry and object manipulation work and for creating innovative theatre for children and adults.
The Selfish Giant (Tessa Bide Productions) is on Saturday 17 April at 11.30am & 2pm for ages 3 plus.
Inspired by the touching children's story The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde, powerful storytelling, captivating puppetry, beautiful design, enchanting music and a sprinkling of audience interaction are used to explore an unusual friendship and how even the grumpiest giant's heart can melt when Spring finally comes.
Tessa Bide Productions launched in 2021 and are Bristol's leading family theatre experts. They have toured extensively across the UK and internationally to great acclaim.
Tickets for The Incredible Tale and Robot Boy and The Selfish Giant are £5 each (plus booking fee). This is per viewing – regardless of the number watching together at the same time.
Two interactive workshops presented by Temporary Commons offer the chance to stay connected and get creative. Bookers will receive a pack with all the materials needed as well as a Zoom link to join the workshop online, led by professional puppet creators.
Sing Song Bird Puppet workshop is on Saturday 10 April at 10am & 3.00pm, for ages 8 plus.
Using collage and pop-up card folding techniques, participants will make a bird puppet with a moving beak. These birds love to sing, squawk and chatter. The birds sing a simple song which will be shared at the end of the workshop.
Wibble Wobble Clown workshop is on Saturday 17 April at 10am & 3.30pm, for ages 5 plus.
These puppets are collages made from simple shapes, then assembled with split pins. Once they're made, the clowns will parade, to test their tipple topple, wibble wobble.
Each workshop costs £10 per participant, which includes postage of all the materials needed as well as access to the professional led online workshops.
Michael Stitt, Chair of The Brunton Theatre Trust said: “Whilst continuing lockdowns have prevented young people from taking part in their usual activities in person, attending and taking part in digital creative experiences also brings people together to have shared, fun experiences. The Brunton has worked hard throughout the pandemic, to find and provide the best possible performances and workshops for our audiences. We hope our work with the festival will bring enjoyment and pleasure at this challenging time for us all.”
Puppet Festival events can be booked with The Brunton by phone on 0131 653 5245 or online at www.thebrunton.co.uk only.
