The award-winning Newcastle Puppetry Festival is back for 2023. North East participants of all ages, backgrounds and abilities are invited to get involved and help the professional artists make and perform with puppets, costumes and masks, culminating in a community parade through the centre of Newcastle on 8th April.
Wor Seahorse Spectacle will shine a bright and colourful light on Newcastle’s maritime heritage, Roman mythology and Geordie pride. The project will explore and celebrate the historic links between Newcastle and the charismatic sea creature, the seahorse. Participants will learn about local heritage, develop skills and improve their wellbeing through participation in creative activity.
A series of workshops led by a heritage professional and five leading puppet artists will culminate in the creation of large scale seahorse puppets and of the River God Tyne. Joined by local musicians, participants will perform in a colourful, celebratory parade in Newcastle City Centre.
Puppetry workshops and how to get involved
Moving Parts Arts workshops will be led by a heritage professional and five leading puppet artists, culminating in the creation of large scale seahorse puppets and of the River God Tyne. The workshops are free and will run throughout January, February, March and April 2023. Individuals, community groups and organisations can get involved. Travel, food and access support can be provided. No prior experience in puppet making is necessary.
The workshops will take place at 6-9pm at the John Marley Centre, Newcastle. There is a maximum of 1 workshop available per person. Participants are asked to complete the online form and choose which potential dates they can make from the options provided and the organisers will contact you to confirm the final date. Options are in January on 19th or 26th; and in March on 2nd, 9th, 16th or 23rd February; 2nd, 9th, 16th or 23rd, with an additional workshop in April in advance of the parade. As part of the Wor Seahorse Spectacle parade, participants must be available on Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th of April.
Simply sign up on the online form to get involved and let them know when you are available to participate in a workshop (between January and April) and if you are free for the parade date and lead in dates in April. All the options for dates are provided on the form.
If you have any questions or need any further information, email Vicky at movingpartsengage@gmail.com
Further information and links
Moving Parts Arts is a charity and an award winning arts and community development organisation founded in 2017. Their week-long puppet festival, dynamic outreach projects and participatory community events engage up to 20,000 people a year..
- Visit Moving Parts Arts Seahorse webpage
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