Exhibition

The National Puppetry Archive

Dates of event: 11 Mar 2024 - 20 Apr 2024 Mon - Thu, Daily Opening Time: 10:00am - Daily Closing Time: 5:00pm

Venue Address: The Window Gallery, City Arts, 11-13 Hockley, Nottingham, NG1 1FH

Elaborately dressed marionette puppets posed on a stage, with detailed costumes and expressive faces.

As part of the Nottingham Puppet Festival, the National Puppetry Archive present a small exhibition of work by John M. Blundall (1937-2014).

Blundall is best known for his early work in television with Gerry Anderson. One of his most famous designs was Parker for Thunderbirds. In 1968 Blundall founded the Cannon Hill Puppet Theatre company, housed within the Midland Arts Centre in Birmingham. Until 1992, he was its artistic director, writing, designing and directing more than 50 productions. A selection of puppets from some of these productions is on display.

On loan from the collection of Michael Dixon.

About The National Puppetry Archive

An aged paper banner with the title "The National Puppetry Archive" featuring stylized illustrations of puppeteers and marionettes.

Puppetry in Great Britain has a rich and diverse history. From the Victorian marionette showmen with their elaborate travelling theatres and trick marionettes to the Punch and Judy professors in their booths on the sea front, each have played their own part in not just our puppet history, but our social history as well. The National Puppetry Archive consists of items relating to puppets and puppet theatre from two collections; the archive of The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild and the private collection of Michael Dixon.

About Nottingham Puppet Festival

Celebrating the artistry of puppets and puppetry along with the communities that inspire their stories, the third Nottingham Puppet Festival will bring puppetry of every kind to all corners of the city.

Nottingham Puppet Festival is produced through a partnership between the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall and City Arts.