From 18th-20th July 2014, a myriad of French and international performers showcased their puppet shows to enthusiastic crowds of both children and adults. There were tiny puppets in trees, giant puppets in markets, dark tales in the forest, strange mechanical bicycles on the street and lots of meals with puppeteers and puppetry enthusiasts. Set in the picturesque town of Poët Laval in the south-east of France, a rustic farm estate was transformed into a buzzing summer puppet festival. This was the Festival de Marionettes, organised by puppeteer and director Deborah Maurice, who was hosting the event for the fifth year in a row. 
I accompanied the London School of Puppetry to the festival and ran a paper puppetry workshop for adults. I also got to perform my little table top show, “Coffee and Dessert” (featuring a cheeky little mouse and an old lady with a penchant for Yorkshire tea and cake) for the Dîner Spectacle (‘Dinner Show’). I put together a photo story which was featured in the UNIMA Oz Magazine, which you can check out here: http://www.unimaoz.org/40258/23/
The festival is now going on it’s 7th year from 22nd – 31st July, 2016. http://www.spectable.com/7eme-festival-de-marionnettes-aux-estampes-les-samildanach/248628/303942
