A free four-day puppet event is coming to Stone this half term, bringing puppetry to life with daily shows, hands-on workshops and a special exhibition for all ages.
Mr BuzzKing’s Puppet Things will take over Stone Heritage Centre on Newcastle Street from Friday 30th May to Monday 2nd June 2025, with activities running each day from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Organised by puppeteer David Leech in collaboration with The Staffordshire Puppet Tree and Stone Town Council, the event is designed to give children and adults the chance to explore the magical world of puppetry. Although not part of the official Stone Carnival Week programme, it has been timed to complement the festivities and offer something creative and family-friendly during the school holiday.
What to expect
Visitors can enjoy:
- Daily puppet shows
- A Pelham Puppets exhibition featuring puppets made between 1947 and 1987
- Workshops where children can make and take home their own puppet
- Support from experienced puppeteers who will guide visitors in using the puppets
The Pelham Puppets “Alive & kicking” Showtime Exhibition celebrates the famous Pelham Puppets, which entertained generations of children. The display will run throughout the event and is suitable for all ages.
Performances by local schools
- On Saturday 31st May at 2:30 pm, pupils from Hassell Primary School’s Puppet Tree Club in Newcastle will present The Magic Rocking Horse, a marionette show performed by the children.
- On Sunday 1st June at 2:30 pm, the Puppet Tree Club from St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School in Stone will perform The Legend of King Wulfere, a story about how Stone got its name.
Each show will be followed by a hands-on session where children in the audience can make their own puppet and take part in a short performance. Every child will then be able to take their puppet home.
Celebrating creativity in the community
The event is all about encouraging imagination and creativity through puppetry, and everyone is welcome to get involved, including adults. With puppeteers on hand to demonstrate how to handle the puppets, visitors will be able to take part rather than just watch from the sidelines.
This is a rare opportunity to explore the art of puppetry and celebrate the work of young performers in our area. All activities and performances are completely FREE!
For more information, follow The Staffordshire Puppet Tree on Facebook or visit thepuppettree.org.
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