PUPPETS of all ‘nationalities’ will gather in Dublin on September 16 – or at least their owners will – for a six-day puppetry spectacle.
Performers from the Czech Republic, Russia, France, Spain, Italy and the UK will provide a welcome distraction from the doom and gloom through slapstick, circus, ventriloquism and even a bit of stand-up comedy during the International Puppet Festival of Ireland.
Among the many performers will be popular ventriloquist and comedian Nina Conti, along with her trusty sidekick Monk.
Ireland has a long tradition in puppetry, with the first puppet theatre dating back to 1721 – when a puppeteer called Stretch opened a facility on Capel Street in Dublin.
Stretch’s Marionette Theatre continued to operate for more than 40 years, and among its patrons was the renowned author and satirist Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels.
The International Puppet Festival of Ireland runs from 16–21 September with daily performances in the Pavilion Theatre, the Mill Theatre and the Lambert Puppet Theatre in south Co Dublin.
A full schedule is available online at www.puppetfest.ie and tickets can be booked through the website or by calling the festival box office on 01 442 9010.
