Theatre / puppetry
Puppet parade marks beginning of new festival
One of the most weird and wonderful parades that Bristol has seen in many years marked the beginning of a new festival devoted to puppetry.
Bristol Experimental Puppet Festival is described as “a cross-city festival unearthing the treasure trove of Bristol’s underground puppet world”.
The parade started on Saturday outside the Arnolfini and made its way over Prince Street Bridge and in front of M Shed before heading to Puppet Place.
“Our puppets have long dreamed to take to the streets with their friends and during these ten days we will collaborate with the inanimate realms and make the impossible everyday,” said festival organisers.
“We have the power to move the world around us and the puppets are calling us to move!”
What appeared to be a refugee family brought up the rear of the parade – photo: Martin Booth
Festival organisers added: “We will breathe life into the living fabric of our city with its own creativity and rebelliousness.
“We are daring to sound the horns to all those who love puppets to come out of the cracks and create something truly miraculous that can be felt in every corner of the city, as everything comes alive.”
The weather caused an injury to one of the largest puppets in the parade – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo & video: Martin Booth
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