Why puppet shows are popping up across the city

Bristol is hosting a puppet festival exploring the weird and wonderful world of the art form for the first time in a decade.

Previously a fixture of the city's arts scene, the event has not been staged since 2016 due to funding problems, but now a new generation of puppeteers has relaunched it with a focus on "experimental" performances.

The fringe-style festival will feature workshops and shows around the city until 14 June.

Here's how you can get involved.

Puppets may make you think of children's parties or a Punch and Judy show, but most of the festival's events are actually aimed at adults ready to have their perceptions challenged.

For example, a show called the Plus Bizarre Cabaret will kick off the festival later, with organisers saying objects will "transmute reality until the inanimate writhes uncontrollably through the cosmos".

Among the more family-friendly events is a puppet parade due to start outside the Arnolfini cafe on the harbourside at 11.30 BST on Saturday, as well as a number of puppet making workshops.

A lot of the programme is free, but attendees must still book a ticket via the Bristol Experimental Puppet Festival website.

The mission to relaunch the puppet festival was led by Francesca Prades and Carrot Patch, founders of Bean Pig Puppets in Easton, but the pair said Bristol's many creative collectives were quick to get involved and plan their own events.

The original festival was founded by charity Puppet Place. The organisation has been heavily involved in its new incarnation and is due to host a number of events in its workspace on the harbour.

Explaining the festival's experimental approach, Patch said: "We think it's important to get adults to use their imagination, to think outside the box, accept different kinds of performance and learn to play."

Venues around Bristol have opened their doors to the festival, including the Cube cinema, the People's Republic of Stokes Croft, The Wardrobe Theatre, Cafe Kino, Sparkes and St Anne's House.

A map of locations is available on the festival's website, and a number of pop-up street events are also planned.

As organiser Prades put it: "I just want to see lots of puppets on the street. I just want it to be fun."

"It's always great to do a show and have people say 'it makes me feel like I could do that' - because you can. Anyone can do it. It's a great art form for that," she added.

Many of the shows are being staged by experienced puppeteers and arts collectives but amateurs are encouraged to take part - particularly in Saturday's parade.

In the run-up to the festival, Bean Pig hosted a series of puppet-making workshops at the J3 Library in Easton with volunteers.

The result was a papier mache creation named Seraphina, who was described as the spirit of the city's pleasure gardens which once occupied the library's site.

As volunteer and J3 staff member Naa Al-Sheikh-Radi put it: "Adults are really lacking in free creative workshops and that's really sad.

"I think adults are denied fun and whimsy."

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