The week in theatre: Mnemonic; The Secret Garden; The Herds – review
Complicité’s extraordinary 1999 play proves a little more forgettable second time round; an al fresco Secret Garden remakes the story in surprising ways; and the team behind Little Amal prepare to take on climate disaster
May 2024
Judy stands up to Punch as classic puppet show gets modern makeover
Spirited Away review – Studio Ghibli gem becomes a theatrical feast
Bolster the Cornish giant stars in clifftop pageant – in pictures
Spirited Away, the stage spectacular: ‘Every 20 minutes there’s something that would be another play’s finale’
April 2024
From Crater Crescent to Canberra: Mr Squiggle gets a new home at the National Museum of Australia
The original pencil-nosed puppet and objects including fellow puppets, artworks, scripts, costumes and more have become part of the National Historical Collection
March 2024
Has anybody seen the Wombles? The hunt is on for TV’s favourite puppets and props
Bagpuss, the Clangers and Paddington are among the icons of childhood that fans are determined to save
February 2024
Herd of puppets to trek 20,000km to highlight urgency of climate crisis
Team behind Little Amal puppet hope to create ‘visceral engagement’ with issues caused by climate emergency
How we made
‘The cameras were held together with Meccano’: how we made Bagpuss
‘He was supposed to be a marmalade-coloured cat but the fabric company got muddled up – and dyed his fur bright pink instead’
Edinburgh’s Manipulate festival: rubbery robot Swan Lake leads celebration of the unexpected
Rewind review – ingenious portrait of oppression and dissent in Latin America
From cannabis-smoking teddy bears to sweary felt creatures: why are we so obsessed with filthy puppets?
December 2023
Play time
Bluey’s Big Play review – puppy puppets’ sweet show sets tails wagging
A Town Called Christmas review – merry mission to restore festive spirit
Lost and Found review – catchy songs and breezy fun as Gruff Rhys steers Oliver Jeffers’ story
Our Little Amal has travelled thousands of miles – but there is still far to go
Wendy: A Peter Pan Story review – an awfully modern adventure
Midnight Mole review – puppet’s cheery takeover of Chekhov’s garden
The Enormous Crocodile review – Roald Dahl’s dastardly reptile stalks the stage
November 2023
Cinderella review – festive fairytale adds a sprinkling of socialism
Our heroine is a straight-talker who is not bothered about the ball but still finds romance in Annie Siddons’ lively musical version
