Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival 2021

Funded on
30 Aug 2021

The Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival (15th-17th Oct 2021) will present a programme of free high-quality puppetry for everyone who lives in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas.

£7,938 Raised of £7,857

33 Backers

101%

Costs

Smoking Apples Buzz £2,000
Mental Health and Schools Workshops £1,600
Bootworks The Juke Boxes £1,000
Design & Print Leaflets & Banners £852
Frolicked Seeing Red £700
A Bird in the Hand Theatre Special Delivery £600
Jack in the Box £300
Public Liability and Employers Insurance £260
Target: (inc. fees) £7,857

http://twpuppetryfestival.org

The Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival was set up in 2014 as a CIC by Linda Lewis. The inaugural 2015 festival was incredibly well received, a one-day new arts experience for the people of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas opened by Joey the horse from the National Theatre's production of War Horse.

The second festival in 2017 included 2 days of shows, schools’ workshops, An exhibition of the costumes and puppets from the West End production of The Lion king at Trinity Theatre. This programme introduced innovative new work to audiences.

The third festival in 2019 was on a larger scale over 3 days and was a resounding success despite the rain. This uniquely contemporary arts event generated a great buzz in the run up and throughout the festival.

In addition to the festival itself Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival has run a number of workshops each year within the community using puppetry to help those suffering from loneliness, dementia and this year we are running a series of workshops with a local mental health charity to support teenagers suffering from anxiety.

Each festival has been delivered within budget with earnings from ticket sales, workshops and contributions from local sponsors and trusts and foundations. The last festival attracted over 3000 visitors to the free events.

Since Linda’s retirement at the end of 2020, Ailsa Molyneux and Alison Bundy have been appointed as new joint Directors. Ailsa is also Director of Hever Festival Theatre and supported Linda on the 2017 TWPF. Alison is Head of Press and Marketing at Hever Festival Theatre and will promote TWPF to the audiences there in the summer months. In 2020 they delivered a successful COVID safe festival at Hever and are excited to do the same in 2021 at both events.

Project Owner: Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.

Contractors : A Bird in the Hand Theatre,Bootworks,Frolicked,Half a String,Jack in the Box Circus,Smoking Apples The team responsible for building or installing the project.