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The Puppet Theatre Barge The Puppet Theatre Barge has been putting on a programme of unique and magical puppet shows on a converted Thames barge for over thirty years. The audience begin their journey as soon as they step onto the gangplank and climb aboard. They descend below the water line (wellingtons not necessary) and leave the real world behind. Puppets from other parts of the world hang from the walls in retirement. The theatre’s golden curtain is softly lit and banks of seats slope gently to the roof. A ship’s bell is rung, the audience falls silent in anticipation. Music plays, the lights dim, the theatre goes dark and finally the curtain rises to the delight of children and adults alike. The Facilities. Don’t worry, the Puppet Theatre Barge is not an open-air theatre! It is an indoor venue, with raked seating for over fifty people, and refreshments (tea, coffee, biscuits and fruit) served at the interval. We have central heating to warm you in the winter, fans to cool you during those rare hot summer days and even a toilet! The boat does not move during the performance and only rocks very gently if a large boat goes by. Performances. Shows usually last for just over an hour, sometimes with an interval of around ten minutes half way through for refreshments. It is a proper theatre so the auditorium goes completely dark before the curtain goes up, and the dramatic lighting is just like in a big theatre. We specialise in performances using long-string marionettes; a world of pure puppetry where the puppets are centre stage and the puppeteers (operating from above) are never seen. Our shows have no upper age limit, but we also put on a programme of productions aimed specifically at an adult audience. Our aims:
to promote live animation to give the audience an experience of the imagination to present new music and writing whenever possible to ensure excellence in voice and music recordings to be aware of: the equal importance of every element within a presentation the scale and perspective of light the centre of gravity of the marionette silence and space Email info@puppetbarge.com Box Office: 020 7249 6876
Editor’s Note: I came across The Puppet Theatre Barge by chance when our boat was moored at Abingdon earlier this year. The Group had received funding to tour The Thames. The Barge is normally moored at Little Venice.
