Puppets in the Library
Animating Libraries during this years’ Summer Reading Challenge
Libraries Unlimited’s Creative Communities Team utilised Arts Council NPO funding to pilot a new touring scheme - Puppets in the Library.
The team saw an excellent opportunity to use the funding to not only roll out creative activities for children across libraries, but to tie in with 2024’s Summer Reading Challenge which had the theme of ‘Marvellous Makers’. Working with 6 libraries, and rolling out 12 events were staged throughout August 2024. Focusing on puppetry and storytelling to animate the inanimate
“We have been very creatively inspired to play with found objects, creating creatures and animals, and will be taking this spirit away with us to take on beach and woodland walks. When the children performed with their puppets it was wonderful to see their proud faces. Loved the music too, very therapeutic.” - Parent attending an event at Axminister Library
Reception was enthusiastic across the board, with libraries expressing their wish for the puppets to return in summer 2025. Performers felt libraries were the perfect fit for their events, and were appreciative of the marketing help they were given. And parents enjoyed the quality of the events and seeing their children so engaged.
“The Puppets in the Library scheme has allowed us to bring together talented puppeteers from Bristol's Puppet Place - Araceli, Paper Cinema and Pickled Image, with some of Devon's best storytellers - Sara Hurley, Sarah Vigers, Louis Bingham and Above Bounds Theatre. Puppets are a great way to tell stories and to encourage reading. The shows and workshops we have programmed as part of this scheme have been found nestled into corners of our libraries during the summer holidays and have provided joyous, intimate entertainment for children and families to enjoy together. We will be providing more story telling with puppets in more of our libraries in the future.”
Rae Hoole, Creative Communities Producer, Libraries Unlimited
In Tavistock we worked with storytellers, Sara Hurley, and Lisa Schenidau as they brought their fantastic storytelling show 'Chasing Crockern' to reimagine Dartmoor's stories. We also were able work with the wonderful team at Paper Cinema who supported participants to use the intricate magic of paper to devise a short story and drawing characters bringing them to life.
At Dawlish and South Molton, we had the pleasure of having Above Bounds bring their playful pop-up show and puppet making craft workshop, 'Silly Squirrel' Puppeteer Sara Vigars and musician Louis Bingham brought their spectacular puppet show performance, 'Flying with Strings' to Axminster, Ilfracombe and South Molton Library, which is inspired by the avian world, along with an accompanying marionette-making workshop.
We travelled with Grandad on his exciting journey to Totnes and Dawlish libraries! He shared his love of collecting treasures and amazing tales with new friends, brought to us by the team at Pickled Image. Totnes also enjoyed the wonderful Isabella Necessity who shared her stories from her incredible bicycling adventures in the wilds of the world.
At Axminster we explored the possibilities of using objects found in nature to create curious puppet creatures, inspired artist Araceli and her show 'The Secret Keeper'. Sara Hurley and Wendy Dacre gave us a spellbinding medley of interactive visual storytelling using Crankies (picture scrolls) and Kamishibai (picture cards) at Ilfracombe Library.
