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The Old Trout Puppet Workshop: Famous Puppet Death Scenes

London International Mime Festival

Three performers and one puppet stand in a puppet booth and stare directly at the camera.

Enjoy an unrelenting sequence of tiny little puppet people in this charming, poignant and slightly eccentric show from these celebrated Canadian puppet masters.

One by one this procession of short melodramas ends unhappily for its hero or heroine. With tongue-in-cheek references to the masterworks of theatre, Old Trout Puppet Workshop cuts straight to the chase, taking out all of the boring bits, getting right to the point. Prepare to weep.

The Old Trouts are a collective of artists who make puppet shows for adults, books for children, operas and films. Steeped in the world of Edward Gorey and Penny Dreadfuls, they bring artistry and dark humour to favourites including The Feverish Heart by Nordo Frot, I hate my Little Brother by Sally, and The Ballad of Edward Grue by Samuel Groanswallow.

Running time: 65 minutes, no interval

Age guidance: 14+ (not suitable for children, contains scenes of violence, suicide, flashing lights and puppet nudity)

Post-show talk, Wed 25 Jan
Hosted by Sue Buckmaster. Free to same-day ticket holders (BSL-interpreted by Jacqui Beckford)

Presented by the Barbican in association with London International Mime Festival

The Old Trout Puppet Workshop is supported by Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development Authority, Calgary Foundation

Image credit: AD Zyne

Reviews

‘ As funny as it is inventive‘
The Guardian
‘Poignant, profound, imaginative, utterly delightful ‘
BritishTheatreGuide
‘Visually stunning and endlessly entertaining‘
Los Angeles Times
‘Exquisite… boundless invention… virtuosity…‘
Variety Magazine

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