We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help bring Nottingham Puppet Festival to life on Saturday 27 June 2026.
Throughout the day, Nottingham city centre will be filled with giant puppets, walkabout performances, family activities and outdoor shows. Volunteers will play a vital role in helping audiences and performers enjoy the event safely, smoothly and confidently.
Whether you are interested in arts events, gaining experience or supporting a major free festival in the city, we would love to hear from you.
About the City Centre Day
Nottingham Puppet Festival will take over the city centre from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday 27 June 2026.
Free performances and walkabouts will take place across several festival zones stretching from Nottingham Central Library and Listergate, through Albert Street and up to Old Market Square.
Audiences will encounter large-scale puppets including the gentle Mountain Hare, the colourful Kantaben the Roller Bird and the four-metre-tall Worker Bee.
Families can also enjoy recurring performances throughout the day, including the bicycle-powered storytelling adventure Penny and the Far Thing and the chaotic fun of Wild Beasts of Silly.
The festival is produced by a partnership between Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham and City Arts. The City Centre Day is supported by It’s in Nottingham.
Roles
Volunteers will help support different parts of the festival across the day. Roles may include:
- Supporting and chaperoning puppet walkabouts through the city centre
- Helping audiences navigate between festival locations
- Supporting activity in the three festival zones
- Welcoming visitors at our Information Hub in Old Market Square
- Gathering feedback from the public
- Supporting photography and social media content
- Helping with event set-up and pack-down
No previous festival experience is needed. Please note that volunteers must be aged 18 or over.
Briefing Sessions
All volunteers must attend one briefing session before the festival.
The sessions will take place at the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham (space TBC) on:
- Wednesday 17 June, 2.30pm – 4pm
- Thursday 18 June, 6.30pm – 8pm
Both sessions are the same, so you only need to attend one.
At the session you will:
- Meet the festival team
- Learn more about how the festival day works
- Find out which volunteer role may suit you best
- Learn about some of the public wellbeing and health and safety that goes into an event like this, and how the volunteer team will support this
- Register for the shifts you would like to support
We will also share information about other volunteering opportunities across the wider festival programme.
On the Day
You can volunteer for one shift or multiple shifts across the day.
If you volunteer for more than one shift, breaks and refreshments will be provided.
Available volunteer slots are:
- 8am – 10.30am: Festival set-up
- 10.30am – 1.30pm: Morning and lunchtime activities
- 1.30pm – 4.30pm: Afternoon activities
- 4.30pm – 6.30pm: Festival pack-down
How to Volunteer
Use the contact form below to register your interest.
Alternatively, send an email with the same details to alma@city-arts.org.uk.