www.puppeteersuk.com - PuppeteersUK

Membership Support Organisations

In 2000, five national membership organisations, each with their own distinctive features, initially came together under the PuppeteersUK umbrella to provide a valuable information and networking service about all aspects of puppetry in the UK.



The British Puppet Guild

Founded in 1925, the Guild is the longest established UK puppetry organisation.

Our aims and objectives are:

a. To promote the practice of the art of Puppetry and Model Theatre

b. To maintain an effective communication network between our members, other related organisations and associated bodies

c. To preserve and share the heritage of British Puppetry and Model Theatre

Our membership is drawn from a wide spectrum of both professional and amateur puppeteers. Regular meetings, festivals, publications and our web site keep members regularly informed and involved. 


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British Centre of Union Internationale de la Marionnette

UNIMA is an organisation bringing together people from around the world who contribute to the development of the Art of Puppetry. It aims to use this art in the pursuit of human values such as peace and mutual understanding among peoples, regardless of race, political or religious convictions, or differences in culture. UNIMA organises an international congress and festival once every four years, produces publications, disseminates scholarly and practical research, facilitates international exchanges, and much more besides.

The British Centre of UNIMA is a registered charity which supports the status of puppeteers and puppet theatre by raising public awareness of the value and importance of puppetry as an art form in its own right. It encourages improved standards of performance, and promotes the use of the art form in education, community programmes, and therapies.

We arrange an annual meeting of members, an annual lecture, and other occasional meetings and events, to take place at different locations throughout the country. Students and young people may join BrUNIMA at a considerably reduced rate which entitles them to receive an emailed copy of the publications, plus all the other benefits. Membership of BrUNIMA includes membership of the parent body. 


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The Punch & Judy Fellowship

Established in 1980, the Punch & Judy Fellowship is the largest and oldest organisation of its kind, devoted to keeping alive the tradition of Punch & Judy shows. Amongst our many members, we not only have performers, we also have collectors, historians and enthusiasts. The most famous of which is our Patron, Harry Hill, himself a great fan of Mr Punch.

Our aims:

The development, preservation and promotion of Punch & Judy shows.

Raise the public’s appreciation of the show by increasing their understanding of its development, history and traditions.

Foster friendship between all those who perform and enjoy Punch & Judy shows.

Improve and maintain the highest standards of entertainment and performance.

Encourage young performers, to ensure the future of the show.

Members receive quarterly issues of our Newsletter “The Swazzle”.


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Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre

The Centre was founded in 1981 at The Garret, 39B Otago Street, Glasgow by professional puppeteer and mask-maker, Malcolm Yates Knight. Between 1981 and 1984, in collaboration with the Scottish Puppet Festival Association, the Centre played a coordinating role in organising festivals.

Our Mission Statement

We are an internationally renowned arts centre dedicated to the sustainable growth and development of the Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre as a permanent theatre, museum and education institute. 

We work at local, national and international levels in the interests of cultural democracy and diversity, through the quality of our work, forward planning, creative intercultural exchanges and exemplary partnerships, to promote a passion and access to creativity for the commonwealth of Scotland.


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The Puppet Centre Trust

Established in 1974 as a trust and registered charity, Puppet Centre is the national development agency for puppetry and focuses on contemporary performance practice, encouraging innovation, whilst also respecting and preserving the heritage of the art form.

Puppet Centre’s strategic role incorporates the use of puppetry in outdoor arts, carnival, dance, opera, screen animation, and theatre sectors. Anticipating and responding to artistic developments and changes in audience engagement, the organisation’s long-term role has taken a range of strategic routes over its 40 year history.

Puppet Place

Puppet Place is a vibrant hub for puppetry and animation on Bristol’s historic harbourside. Our building offers affordable workshop, rehearsal and office space to a host of artists. Since 2008 we have grown from a voluntary run entity into an independent and ambitious organisation. Our residents include world renowned companies Green Ginger and Pickled Image and creative technologists Rusty Squid, independent directors, producers and filmmakers. Our Associate Artists scheme supports a wider group of emerging and experienced artists all of whom value the sense of community and professional network that Puppet Place offers.

We also run the international Bristol Festival of Puppetry (BFP). This is a biennial celebration of all things animated on stage and screen and is a highlight of Bristol’s cultural calendar.



Manipulate Arts

The mission of Manipulate Arts is to champion, develop and present brilliant animated film, puppetry and visual theatre in Scotland and internationally.

Formerly known as Puppet Animation Scotland, all of our work is focused around artforms which breathe life into the inanimate or tell stories using primarily images rather than text. Play and manipulation are at the heart of all the work that we champion and support – whether of puppets, objects, digital imagery, or of the human body. We believe that the common thread between these artforms lies in the opportunities they create to discover the latent magic in the everyday, to find common visual languages beyond the reach of words, and to enable play at all stages of our lives.