The children’s theatre has confirmed a number of plans to help start celebrating its special anniversary.
The Little Angel Theatre has confirmed some of its initial 65th anniversary plans, which will begin with the launch of a heritage project, funded by a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which aims to revive and preserve the future of marionette puppetry in the UK, an endangered craft with more than 600 years of history.
Hoping to inspire both Little Angel audiences and future generations of puppet-makers, plans announced today include a brand-new production whichwill celebrate marionette craftsmanship and a wide-ranging programme of events, exhibitions and talks about this historic craft placed on The Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts in 2023.
Meanwhile, The Little Angel Theatre Children’s Puppet Festival will return from the 28th July until the 30th August for its fourth year. At the centre and a highlight of this will be the world premiere of a new marionette production The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, written, directed and designed by Little Angel Associate Director Oliver Hymans (22 – 30 August, ages 6+).
Other productions announced today as part of Little Angel Theatre’s Children’s Puppet Festival are Tiny Planet (28th – 29th July, ages 5-11) – the planet’s mysteries are uncovered with b puppetry and live folk songs merged with big 90s synth; At Sea ( 31 July – 2 August, ages 6 – 11) – an uplifting tale of a sailor’s triumph over darkness with stunning projections and original music; Jack and the Beanstalk (sort of) (4th – 5th August, ages 4 – 11) – part air guitar workshop, part magical mess, a lo-fi, hi-tech, big-beat bonkers panto stuffed with songs and silliness; Club Origami (ages 2-5, 7th – 9th August) – an immersive and interactive dance show inviting family audiences to create, imagine and explore; and Puffling Percy ( 11th – 12th August, ages 3 – 8) – magical puppetry and a heartwarming story with music by Harriette Ashcroft (Mrs H and the Singalong Band).
In addition, a programme of talks talks, special events and adult puppetry courses will also celebrate Little Angel’s 65-year history and raise awareness of marionette puppetry as an endangered heritage craft (with further details to be announced soon).
Behind the scenes, the theatre will also offer a training pipeline for makers and performers, passing rare skills directly from master practitioners to the next generation. The new traineeship will support two emerging puppet makers in carving, jointing and design skills, and six trainee puppeteers in specialist marionette manipulation. The training will take place in a brand-new street-facing workshop in Islington currently being renovated as part of Little Angel’s 65th anniversary with funding from the Wolfson Foundation. As well as serving as a flagship facility for puppetry training and education, the new space will be a powerhouse of creativity for artists to design and create Little Angel’s theatre productions.
Little Angel Theatre Artistic Director Samantha Lane and Executive Director Peta Swindall said: “As we celebrate 65 years, we’re not just looking back – we’re looking ahead. Marionette puppetry is an endangered craft, and without action, it could be lost. This project, led by LAT’s brilliant and highly skilled Associate Director, Oliver Hymans, is about securing its future: restoring our unique marionette bridge, creating ambitious new work, and giving a new generation the skills to keep this extraordinary artform alive.”
To find out more about The Little Angel Theatre visit: https://www.littleangeltheatre.com/