Suspense: London Puppetry Festival

28 October – 6 November 2011

Suspense: London Puppetry Festival ‘09 was the first festival of puppetry to take place across London for over 25 years.

This year, over 10 days, there will be a range of performances, masterclasses and symposia taking place at venues across the capital.

This year, as Little Angel celebrates its 50th anniversary, the festival has 11 venues taking part and over 30 companies participating. New venues this year include The Roundhouse, The V and A, Wiltons Music Hall and New Diorama . There is international work from Iran, US, Georgia, Austria and France alongside the most innovative UK companies – all for adult audiences.

There is a thread of ‘Puppetry and Politics’ running through the festival and a feature will be a major symposium alongside an Iranian production of ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ and a trilogy of pieces by OBIE-award winning US company Great Small Works formed by ex-members of radical activists Bread and Puppet Theater. There are also puppetry inspired workshops, talks, late-night cabaret, opera, dance and films.

British company Blind Summit will feature in the directors talk on November 2nd and the Puppet Grinder Cabaret on November 6th at Jacksons Lane Theatre.

Suspense helps unravel the myths that sometimes surround puppetry in this country, proving that puppets aren’t just for kids.  It showcases a diverse range of contemporary work from UK and international practitioners, bringing puppetry to new adult audiences.

More at www.suspensefestival.com