Ards Puppet Festival oresents Enchanted House of Puppetry

Presented by Ards Puppet Festival, the two-day event will feature an eclectic mix of scheduled performances, free puppet shows and workshops and plenty of madcap puppet shenanigans, to inspire the imaginations of both young and old alike.

Expect puppets in all shapes and sizes, from hand puppets to strings and socks.

The festival is thrilled to welcome Hands Up! to the programme.

All the way from the Netherlands, with nothing more than his bare hands and wooden eyes, Lejo creates a unique, fresh style of puppet theatre. Hands up! is a lively, wordless performance with lots of music.

Little Gem Puppets will make a return to the festival with their adorable Three Little Pigs and Maggie shows, and Cre8 Theatre will be performing their wonderful Sleeping Beauty: 80’s Throwback. In this modern adaption of the well-known fairytale, the heroine wakes to find herself in the most fantastical world full of 80s inspired music.

As well as scheduled performances, visitors can expect drop-in shows and workshops, taking place at various times throughout both days.

Stories, Just in Case by Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre is a series of fun performances featuring a mermaid, a crocodile, Little Red Riding Hood and others. After each story, children can have a go at puppet manipulation with guidance from puppet master Steve Smart.

There are also opportunities to get creative at the Puppet Making Workshops where everyone can have a go at making simple puppets to take away and create your very own puppet shows at home.

The Enchanted House of Puppetry takes place October 30-31.