Programme

A weekend of Puppetry Magic to inspire the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington community with creativity and awesomeness!

Some of the festival is free and some events are ticketed. Open any event below for full details and a link to book, or get tickets for the whole festival here. Get Tickets

Main Venue: Vogelmorn Bowling Club, 93 Mornington Road, Brooklyn. This venue includes 'The Hall', 'Upstairs' and 'The Green', and getting between them means steps and uneven pavement. Ridgway School Hall is a short walk further up the same road. It is wheelchair accessible, has the only wheelchair accessible toilets, and is also our wet weather venue.

Friday

18 September 2026

By invitation

Opening Event

For Festival Artists, Volunteers and the Puppetry Community to gather and celebrate our mahi together.

Please let us know via email if you would like to come along.

Saturday

19 September 2026

Free, no ticket needed

Junk Puppet Carnival

A morning of FREE junk puppet making, roaming puppets and outdoor games.

No ticket required. Pack a picnic and bring the whānau.

See the programme

Saturday: Junk Puppet Carnival

10:00am–2:00pm
Free for whānau
Junk puppet workshops and games, Recycled paper crafts, Roaming puppeteers, Teatro lambe lambe (tiny theatres), Live music, 'Little Landscapes' show, Ice cream van and Cafe. Wet weather venue: Ridgway Hall.
The Green
10:30–11:30am
1 hr
Junk Puppet Workshop
All ages. No registration - just turn up. Under 5's bring an adult!
The Green
12:00–1:00pm
1 hr
Junk Puppet Workshop
All ages. No registration - just turn up. Under 5's bring an adult!
The Green
1:00–1:30pm
Junk Puppet Performance
Share your creativity and bring your workshop creations to life!
The Green
10:30am, 11:30am & 12:30pm
25 mins
Ages: 5–7 + accompanying adults
Little Landscapes · Amy Grace Laura
Touch tour 15 minutes before each show. Wet weather venue: Ridgway Hall.
More info →
The Green

Ticketed

Shows for Children and whānau

A morning of glorious puppet shows designed for different ages to enjoy!

Check the programme here and buy your tickets quick.

See the programme

Saturday: Shows for Children and whānau

10:00–10:30am
30 mins
Ages: 3–8
Box of Birds · Birdlife Productions
Audio described
Touch tour 9:30am. Audio described, headphones pre-booked with your ticket.
More info →
The Hall
11:00–11:30am
30 mins
Ages: 3–10
Migit and the Dragon · Natural Magic
More info →
The Hall
12:00–12:45pm
45 mins
Ages: All
Little Top Circus · Jon Coddington
More info →
The Hall
1:15–2:00pm
40 mins
Ages: 7+
The Fish: Festival Commission · Joey Sheppard
More info →
The Hall

Ticketed

Workshops

Captivating hands-on puppet workshops for Adults and ages 14+

Check the programme here.

See the programme

Saturday: Workshops

9:30–11:00am
90 mins
Ages: Adult (14+)
Basic Mechanisms for Puppetry · Jon Coddington
More info →
Upstairs
11:15-12.00
45 mins
Ages: Adult (14+)
Bespoke Backpacks for Giants and Walkabouts · Ally Rogers
More info →
Upstairs
12:15–1:45pm
90 mins
Ages: Adult (14+)
Make a Puppet and Bring it to Life! · Bridget Sanders
More info →
Upstairs
2:00–5:00pm
3 hrs
Ages: Adult (14+)
Building Access from the Start · Lauren Hayes and Judith Jones
BLENNZ
Wheelchair accessible venue.
More info →
Ridgway Hall

Ticketed

Pea Soup and 'Puppets for Peace' Cabaret

An evening of cutting-edge puppetry entertainment, including our freshly commissioned work by Joey Sheppard, a scintillating puppet cabaret and Puppet Films, all rounded off with a gourmet bowl of soup, all included in the price. PG (suggested 8+).

Get Cabaret TicketsSee the programme

Saturday: Pea Soup and 'Puppets for Peace' Cabaret

5:30–5:45pm
Doors open
The Hall
5:45–5:55pm
Karakia & Opening Circle
The Hall
6:00–6:40pm
40 mins
Ages: 7+
The Fish: Festival Commission · Joey Sheppard
More info →
The Hall
6:50–7:40pm
Pea Soup Dinner + Films
The Hall
7:50–9:30pm
1 hr 40 mins
Puppet Cabaret
The Hall

Sunday

20 September 2026

Ticketed

Shows for Children and whānau

Another morning of accessible shows.

See the programme

Sunday: Shows for Children and whānau

10:00–10:30am
30 mins
Ages: 3–8
Box of Birds · Birdlife Productions
Audio described
Touch tour 9:30am. Audio described, headphones pre-booked with your ticket. Wheelchair accessible venue.
More info →
Ridgway Hall
10:45–11:10am
20 mins
Making Maunga · Toro Pikopiko
Wheelchair accessible venue.
Ridgway Hall
11:30am–12:00pm
20 mins
Ages: All ages
Ngā Maunga Rū · Toro Pikopiko
Touch tour 11:15am. Wheelchair accessible venue.
Ridgway Hall
12:00–12:30pm
30 mins
Ages: 14+
The Bicycle Powered Propaganda Puppet Show · Stephanie Cairns
PG
More info →
The Hall

Ticketed

Workshops

More workshops for adults and children.

See the programme

Sunday: Workshops

9:00–11:30am
2.5 hrs
Ages: 14+
Exploring 3D Shadows · Rowena MacGill
More info →
The Hall
10:00–11:00am
1 hr
Pattern Making for Puppets · Sarah Bell
More info →
Upstairs
11:15–11:50am
40 mins
Ages: 14+
Puppetry in Warzones · Simone van Kan
More info →
Upstairs

Festival attendees

Closing Circle

Join us for a cup of tea to celebrate, share our experience and complete our wonderful weekend together

12:45–1:30pm at the Hall.

Access at the festival

Two of our shows are audio described and offer an optional touch tour. If you would like help planning your visit, or you have an access need we have not listed, please get in touch. We are very glad to help.

See our shows for blind and low vision audiences →Contact us about access →

Programme details may shift a little as the festival comes together. Check back closer to the weekend.