Randwick Puppet Festival

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Fri 17 Jan 2020 - Sun 19 Jan 2020

If you have a thing for puppets or are just a little bit intrigued by the thought of a festival around puppets, then you should take a look at this event that caters for both children and adults. From puppet performances to puppet-making workshops and a puppet picnic, it's 3 days of unique experiences that will entertain and surprise you.



The full program, coming to multiple venues in and around Randwick, is an interesting one featuring comedy and cabaret amongst an exhibition and talk, a giant pop-up book and some of the biggest puppets you've ever seen.

Here are some of the highlights:-

Richard Bradshaw – My Life with Puppets

Maroubra-born Richard Bradshaw has had a long history playing with puppets. His shadow puppets have entertained audiences across Europe, America and Asia. They featured in an early Muppet Show and were the subject of a documentary by Jim Henson in Sydney in 1984.

Richard's achievements include a Medal of the Order of Australia and a Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award for his services to the arts as a puppeteer and for sustained excellence in the field of puppetry. It is only fitting that he opens this festival with an exhibition and talk on his life as a famous shadow puppeteer.

This one-off event is free and takes place in the Lionel Bowen Library (669 Anzac Pde, Maroubra) on 17 January, from 6.30pm-7.30pm. Registration is essential via Eventbrite .

If you want more of Richard, you can see him in action the following day at Randwick Literary Institute (60 Clovelly Rd, Randwick) when he presents a magical program, Bradshaw's Shadows, made up of short performances using his puppets. It's packed with fun, surprise, stories, songs and visual jokes. Along the way, you'll see a crazy version of Old McDonalds Farm as well as bizarre creatures that can change shape and a small circus that appeared many times on ABC's Play School.

It's happening from 11.30am-12.30pm and is also free. You can register here for this one.

Dreamer in Space

The kids will love this glow-in-the-dark puppet show featuring Dreamer, a character that lives in outback Australia with a hobby in astronomy. One day his satellite dish picks up a message from an intelligent life form in a distant solar planet, thus setting him on a journey in his space ship to investigate.



Off to outer space, he goes and travels through a wormhole, discovers a new solar system and saves a growing planet from a plant-eating space monster. En voyage, he meets and learns to communicate with some engaging creatures, including an organ playing alien.

Taking place at the Randwick Literary Institute on 18 January, from 10am-11am, general admission is $15 per person or $50 for a family of 2a & 2c (aged 5-12yrs). You can book it here .

Stupendous Shadow Workshop

From 11am-3pm at Randwick Literary Institute, learn from the Curious Legends experts on how to make your own shadow puppet and how to make it work.

This rolling workshop (just join in when you arrive) on 18 January is free and allows you to work at your own pace and try out your own ideas. Register here for numbers purposes.

In Search of the Giddy Gird Bird

The talented puppeteers from Sydney Puppet Theatre bring their exquisite marionettes in this theatre delight for the whole family. You'll feel like you're watching a toy box come to life with the story of Salty the Old Sea Dog searching for a treasure – the one and only Giddy Gird Bird.



The trick puppets transform, come apart and surprise the audience in this beautiful performance consisting of a mixture of marionettes. You can catch it on 18 January, from 2pm-3pm, at a cost of $15 per person or $50 per family. It's also on at the Randwick Literary Institute.

Bookings can be made through this link .

Puppet Cabaret for Adults

This comedic puppet performance for grown-ups is bound to tickle your fancy with its political satire, puppet mayhem and outright absurdity providing a one-of-a-kind experience.

You can expect a Flea Circus with a daredevil stunt-flea, ornithologists with rare birds, a cohort of wild animals and more with hosts Gary (the people-pleasing bureaucrat) and Glenda (the loyal co-worker).

You can find it on at the Randwick Literary Institute on 18 January, from 7pm-8.30pm. Tickets are $20 per person.

A bar will be open from 6pm for you to enjoy a glass of wine and/or snack.

Puppet Picnic



This is no ordinary picnic. Of course, bring your picnic and rug but you will be mingling not just with family and friends but with giant puppets created and operated by Curious Legends.

These lantern-style puppets will mesmerise the audience with their movements and stunning designs. The Wish Dragon with its massive paws encompasses onlookers in a big hug, whilst Willy Wagtail darts through the festival and the Giant Eagle with its 5m wingspan flies high above the crowd flapping its wings.

You can interact with the puppets and see how they work, watch puppet shows and take part in puppet making workshops. Best of all it is free.

This one is on at the Randwick Community Centre and Environment Park (27 Munda St, Randwick) on 19 January, from 10am-3pm. You can register here .

Monster Peek-A-Boo Puppet Workshop



On 19 January, from 12.30pm-2pm, come and join Kay Yasugi from Pupperoos to learn how to make a glow-in-the-dark monster puppet to take home. It's fun and free and all about peek-a-boo rod puppets.

You can stay as long as you like in this rolling workshop on at the Randwick Community Centre in the Sustainability Classroom. Register for your place here .

Showko: Absolutely Normal

Showko is a quirky and charming Japanese ventriloquist bringing her stand-up comedy to the Randwick Community Centre with her Absolutely Normal show.



Directed by Heath McIvor (the man behind Randy the purple puppet), this show was one of the standout hits at the Malthouse Theatre during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It's kooky and off-beat, hugely entertaining and very unique.

See it for $15 per person or $50 per family of 4 on 19 January, from 1pm-2pm. Get your tickets here .

The Miss Muffet Show

If you grew up with popular nursery rhymes, then you're sure to know Little Miss Muffet. This show is like a child's dream coming true as the story, with the emergence of Miss Muffet, unfolds from a giant pop-up book.

When the Dish runs away with the Spoon, the audience is taken on a hilarious journey through the most-loved stories of childhood. Jam-packed with twists and turns, children quickly forget themselves and call out advice and warnings to popular characters, such as Old Mother Hubbard and the Queen of Hearts.

The show has received critical acclaim and played to packed venues. It's 50mins long and suitable for ages 4-12yrs and families. Admission is $15 per person or $50 per family of 2a & 2c. Again, Randwick Community Centre is the place for this one and you catch it on 19 January, from 2.30pm-3.30pm. Purchase your tickets before it books out.

For the full program of what's on, visit Randwick City Council website .

#attractions
#cabaret
#child_friendly
#comedy
#festivals
#maroubra
#performing_arts
#randwick
#south_east
#things_to_see
#workshops
#january
!date 17/01/2020 -- 19/01/2020
%wnsydney