Bognor Puppet Festival 2026
when
Mornings and afternoons
Approx. 30 minutes per show
date(s)
Sat 23 May to
Fri 29 May 2026
where
The Bognor Makerspace
Bognor Library Garden
when
Mornings and afternoons (Approx. 30 minutes per show)
Approx. 30 minutes per show
date(s)
Sat 23 May to
Fri 29 May 2026
where
The Bognor Makerspace, Bognor Library Garden
The Bognor Makerspace
Bognor Library Garden
The 4th Annual Bognor Puppet Festival! 🎉
Summer is almost here and we’re proud to be hosting the 4th Bognor Puppet Festival! Join us for some puppet family fun indoors at the Bognor Makerspace, and outdoors at the library garden. Most shows are suitable for children aged 2+ and feature fantastic, surprising and comic visual creations.
Including enchanting shows by Scarlet Oak Theatre, Puffling Productions, Folded Feather and more, with an interactive animated performance of Jackie and the Beanstalk created by our Advanced Puppetry Group with the support of the Aardman Academy.
To see the full schedule and book, please visit our TicketSource page, or read on below for more details about each show.
Bognor Library Garden Shows, Sat 23 May 🌳
The Bognor Library is hosting two outdoor shows on the first day of the festival in their beautiful garden. Tickets for The Butterfly House and Laika the Space Dog are free of charge but as space is limited, we recommend booking online to avoid disappointment.
The Butterfly House, 10:30am and 12:00pm
Presented by HandMade Theatre / Free
Gather round and be enchanted by a stunning collection of handcrafted butterfly puppets. Follow the magical transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, discover a kaleidoscope of colourful species, and take a moment to reflect on how we can join together to protect their fragile homes and reconnect with the natural world.
With original live music and a clever technological twist, The Butterfly House is a joyous celebration of nature and transformation, perfect for audiences of all ages!
The Butterfly House has been commissioned by Applause Rural Touring and follows on from the highly popular show The Puppet Petting Farm – those who attended our puppet festival last year might’ve seen it!
Laika the Space Dog, 1:30pm and 2:30pm
Presented by Lollihop Puppet Theatre / Free
A lively theatre show about an ordinary dog who went on an extraordinary journey into space. Laika The Space Dog tells the story of the first dog in space – with a twist. Join Laika as she zooms through the asteroid belt, meets Space apes and returns to earth in a shower of glory.
Featuring a beautifully crafted puppet, riveting soundtrack and a few surprises, Laika the Space Dog delights ages 3+ and adults too.
Bognor Makerspace Shows, Tue 26 – Fri 29 May 🎪
Come the weekday we’re moving out of the garden and into the Bognor Makerspace, featuring an assortment of exciting shows throughout the week, with tickets just £5.
Jackie and the Beanstalk, Tues 26 at 11:00am and 1:30pm
Presented by Making Theatre Gaining Skills (us!) / £5 a ticket
Jackie’s mum is making her take the cow to market, when the town is being menaced by a greedy giant. Little does she know that she’s in for a big adventure. A retelling of the famous story, all around the Bognor Makerspace, with puppets big and small.
This show is extra special as it’s a produced by us and our learners – follow our social media pages to see some behind the scenes of the creation of the show in the run-up to the festival.
Fancy getting involved? Check out some of our courses and help create props, puppets and more for the show, free for everyone and beginners welcome!
Suitcase Circus, Wed 27 at 11:00am and 1:30pm
Presented by Folded Feather / £5 a ticket
A hilariously heart warming, one-person show of extreme originality and virtuosity. A threadbare ringmaster sock, Wobulous Discombobulous, introduces a selection of the most talented objects which the world has to offer. As with all authentic circuses there is a wonderfully weird and bizarre musical accompaniment.
Suitcase Circus features the most unlikely of performers including the world’s only acrobatic potato sack, a daredevil ski glove, an incredible dancing milkshake straw, the hypnotic tie snake Windsor Knot, and the lovable yet bizarre magical Mexican hat Timrek.
Puffling Percy, Thu 28 at 11:00am and 1:30pm
Presented by Puffling Productions / £5 a ticket
Percy is a puffling who gets left behind when Map & Pap and the rest of the flock migrate south for the winter. Along comes a fearless field mouse called Shrimp, and the two set off on an unexpected adventure that requires every ounce of courage they’ve got.
An uplifting children’s show for 4-11 year olds about friendship, overcoming self-doubt and trusting your own instincts. With original music and songs by Harriette Ashcroft (Mrs H and the Singalong Band), magical puppetry and a heartwarming story, Puffling Percy is bound to shake you by your tail-feathers and lift you up, up and away!
Along Came a Magpie, Fri 28 at 11:00am and 1:30pm
Presented by Scarlet Oak Theatre / £5 a ticket
In the intimate setting of a potting shed, we meet our Gardener. She loves the smell of the flowers, the feel of the earth and watching her plants bloom. But along came a magpie who turns her potting shed upside down! Making friends is lots of fun, but can sometimes be tricky.
Join our gardener and magpie on this playful and heart warming journey as they navigate the intricacies of friendship. Featuring puppetry, plants and lots of pots, this production is designed to delight ages 2-6 and their grownups.