The Puppets return to Newtownards!

Newtownards is preparing for a puppet invasion when the Ards Puppet Festival returns to Ards Arts Centre and Conway Square.

The popular festival which is taking place on Sunday 26 & Monday 27 May presents a full-programme of puppet mayhem and will be fun for all ages!

Over the two days, Ards Arts Centre and Conway Square will be buzzing with an eclectic mix of scheduled performances, free puppet workshops and plenty of madcap puppet shenanigans! Expect puppets in all shapes and sizes, from socks to strings and even glow in the dark!

The Festival is thrilled to welcome Lyngo Theatre to this year’s programme to perform their ‘Tom Thumb’ and ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ shows at Ards Arts Centre. Not your usual puppet shows - these classic fairy tales will be brought to life with fascinating and magical performances by Patrick Lynch of Cbeebies fame. The whole family will be entertained!

Clydebuilt Theatre will make a welcome return to the festival with their adorable ‘Lost Bear’ production and the much-loved Banyan Theatre will also return with their enchanting show ‘The Hedgehog Prince’. All scheduled shows cost £3 per ticket, advanced booking is required.

There’s lots happening outside in Conway Square too with a full-programme of street-theatre, walkabouts and puppet workshops.

Watch the ‘Billy Goats Gruff’ as they tussle with the grumpy troll, queue up at the ‘Rat Choc Chip’ ice-cream van and get more than you’ve bargained for, enjoy a ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’ or traditional ‘Punch and Judy’. More creative visitors can get stuck into puppet making at the free interactive workshops where children can build their very own puppets, with help from professional artists.