Little Big World Puppet Company
Timeless Joy. Boundless Imagination.
The Village Puppet Festival 2024!
Mapleton Hall, Mapleton, Queensland.
Saturday 9th November & Sunday 10th November
Puppet performances and workshops over the two days!
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
Children aged 14 and under must have an adult present onsite.
For baby/toddler on lap just book one ticket for the adult.
Please note: Our artists are performing for free, they are working on a public donation/pay what you can basis.
You can give your donation on the day, upon entry to shows. Thank you : )
Book Now for Shows & Workshops!
See and learn something new!
Most shows are free!
Puppets are for everyone!
Booking is essential
All ages welcome
Puppets everywhere!
So much fun!
Productions
Cyril & his Violin
Meet Scott Brand and his marionette, Cyril!
Cyril is an Irish marionette, born in Spain, living in Australia and playing beautiful songs ranging from Simon and Garfunkel to The Sound Of Music and Fiddler On The Roof. A marionette puppet, Cyril plays the violin, dances and sometimes rests his legs while he plays! You can see Cyril on Saturday the 9th November during the afternoon.
No need to book
Donations welcome
The Lion &The Boy
Suitcase Theatre
A boy visits the Circus every year and believes the animals are his friends. Until one year something happens!....
A short SUITCASE THEATRE play about respecting animals.
Devised and performed by Kathy Hickson
Suits age 5 - 10
Gold coin donation
Saturday 9th November 11.30am & 1pm
Sunday 10th November 12Noon
Duration 20 minutes
Registration essential
For baby/toddler on lap please book just one ticket for the adult
To book
Please include in your booking every person that will be present in your party
PARADOS PRODUCTIONS
You're Up, Buttercup!
A play with audience participation for brave audience members of all ages! Featuring some cracking poems influenced by Australian culture.
Devised and performed by Hayley Davis, Artistic Director of Parados Productions.
Suits: All ages
For babies on laps please book just one ticket
Gold coin donation
Saturday 9th November 12.15 & 3.45
Registration essential.
Duration 15 minutes
Parados Productions are managing their ticketing. Village Puppet Festival management accepts no responsibility for cancellation of this production or issues with registration.
To book
Please include in your booking every person that will be present in your party
MY GRANDFATHERS SUITCASE
Suitcase Theatre
A short play using a vintage suitcase to tell the story.
Devised and performed by Claire Smith.
A wonderful true story about her own Grandfather who joined the war effort leaving his home in South Australia to fight in France in 1915.
A historical piece told from his mother's perspective using real genuine diary entries and highlighting how war affects real families.
Suits: Age 8 and above
Gold coin donation
Saturday 9th November 1.30pm
Sunday 10th November 1pm
Registration essential
To book
Please include in your booking every person that will be present in your party
Little Big World Puppet Company
The Three Billy Goats Gruff have had Enough!
A Norwegian tale from the 19th Century.
It's not safe to cross the bridge to Greentown.
Bull, Pig, Swan, Cow live in rocky Rock City. They yearn to get to Greentown to visit friends and eat some luscious greens.
Who can get rid of the bully of the bridge....? Spider? Brush Turkey? Flower? Maybe Crocodile who lives in the river...?
Oh dear!.. Asking friends is no help...hmmm, what they need is a grown-up that plays an important part in their lives....
Saturday 9th November 2pm
Gold coin donation
Suits: Age 5plus
Registration essential
To Book
For baby/toddler on lap just book one ticket for the adult.
LARRIKIN PUPPETS
The Village Puppet Festival is proudly sponsored by the amazing Larrikin Puppets!
Larrikin Puppets are presenting a colourful and exciting comedy-variety puppet show featuring zany Muppet-style characters performing silly skits, jokes and live interaction with the audience.
Children and families are invited to sing, dance and play along! The show will feature a few of their original songs heard on Spotify and children's radio stations!
Dont miss this fun, FREE, interactive show by Larrikin!
Their puppet show won Best Kids Live Show at The National 'What's On For Kids Awards'. Formally trained in USA by The Muppets and Sesame Street puppeteers. Larrikin have appeared on TV and they are currently creating their own puppet TV series for children.
Thank you Larrikin Puppets for your fantastic sponsorship!
Larrikin are performing on both days of the Festival with their one hour show, free of charge! Don't miss it!
Saturday 9th November 2-30pm
Sunday 10th November 2.30pm
Suits: Age 5 - 8 years
Duration 1 hour Includes Meet and Greet with performers, Brett & Elissa with puppets!
For baby/toddler on lap please book just one ticket for the adult.
At least one parent/carer must be present in hall during performance.
Registration essential
To book
Please include in your booking every person that will be present in your party, just one ticket needed for adult with baby or toddler on lap
Demeter's Journey
Suitcase theatre
Based on the myth of Demeter & Persephone of Ancient Greece.
A modern day Demeter, in 2024, lost someone she dearly loved. At first, she felt isolated experiencing a wide variety of emotions. A symbolic play about how Demeter navigated the seasons of her grief through the forest of life to find her way to walk with her loss.
Nan Cameron, registered clinical counsellor, has devised this gentle performance to help make sense of the stages of grief, even to very young children. This play is about the stages of grief after any death. Appropriate wording is used and the variety of emotions are openly discussed.
Suits: Age 8 and above
Sunday 10th November 11.30am
Gold coin donation
Registration essential
To book
Please include in your booking every person that will be present in your party
Travelling Yarn
Suitcase Theatre
A storyteller misses his train and while he waits for the next train he tells a story set in stark landscapes;
In a land as flat as a frying pan Amir goes out into the wilderness. While he is there he discovers a way to make a beautiful instrument.
Upon his return to home he captures the heart of his true love, Siri.
A story told using puppets, stunning backdrops, music and song.
Suits: All ages
Sunday 10th November 1.30pm & 4.15pm
Gold coin donation
Registration essential
To book
Please include in your booking every member htat will be present in your party.
For baby/toddler on lap just book one ticket.
Catbird Theatre Company
The Party
A whimsical introduction to the world of theatre. A show with gentle and playful interactions with multiple sensory elements, props, shadow puppets and hand puppets.
Sweetie the swamp wallaby is getting ready for a big surprise—her joey is about to emerge from her pouch. Luckily, she has her friends Edna the Echidna and Maggie the Magpie to help her prepare. The animals look to the forest for inspiration.
Come join the animals of the forest to get ready for the party!
Suits: Preschool children
Sunday 10th November 2pm
Duration 20 minutes
In The Puppet Garden
Free
Registration essential
Seating is chairs, mats and cushions
This project is supported by:
The Regional Arts Development Fund - a partnership between the Queensland Government and Noosa Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
To book
Please include in your booking every person that will be present in your party
Alan & George Marionette Artists
Circus On Strings
Our clown marionettes invite you to the circus for a show of juggling, high rope and memorable magic moments
Alan and George using a group of marionettes to create a Big Top atmosphere!
Don't miss this opportunity to introduce your children to the wonderful world of puppets performing on strings!
Suits: All ages
Sunday 10th November 12.30 & 3.45pm
Duration 20 minutes
Includes a chance to meet and chat about their work as puppeteers.
Gold coin donation
Registration essential
To book
Please include in your booking every person that will be in your party.
For baby/toddler on lap please book just one ticket for the adult.
WORKSHOPS
There will be several AMAZING workshops at The Village Puppet Festival. All ages are welcome to attend. Children aged 14 and under MUST be accompanied by a parent/carer for duration of workshop. For children aged 14 and over we must have emergency contact details, please provide these on the day to Festival organizer. Thank you
Spirit Animal Stick Puppets
Parados Productions
Participants can use found materials, watercolour and collage techniques to design and create their own tactile spirit animal stick puppet. Ending with opportunity to devise a short performance with friends!
Saturday 9th November 10.30
Sunday 10th November 10.30
Duration 45 minutes
Suits Age 4 - 14
Children aged 14 and under must be accompanied for duration of workshop by a parent/carer.
Gold coin donation
Registration essential
Participants can bring old drawings, paintings, fabric scraps, etc. Some materials provided.
Participants should wear apron or clothes for undertaking art.
Parados Productions are managing ticketing for this event. The Village Puppet Festival management accepts no responsibility for cancellation or issues regarding registration.
To book
If you are booking a child aged under 14 and under, book 1 ticket only, the accompanying adult does not need to register.
Marionette Making
The Squeaking Tribe
Using pre-fired clay pieces, learn all the tips and tricks needed to assemble and string your very own marionette puppet.
The Squeaking Tribe are an established, reputable company and drawing on over 26 years experience, Sol will show you how to use up-cycled materials and repurposed objects to create your own interactive festival Avatar!
A puppet kit of fired clay pieces is provided which is then assembled into a marionette. A 2-hour practical, fun workshop!
All materials supplied.
Suits: Age 8+
Children aged 14 and under MUST be accompanied by a parent/carer. An emergency contact number for minors 14-18 must be provided on the day to Festival organizer.
Saturday 9th November 12Noon
Sunday 10th November 12Noon
Duration 2 hours
$30 + $20 materials fee.
Undercover area
Registration essential
The Squeaking Tribe are managing their own registration, The Village Puppet Festival accept no responsibility for cancellation or other issues related to workshop registration.
To book
Registration for Marionette Making with The Squeaking Tribe.
Links will take you to the contact form on their company website, or book via Facebook.
Make a Puppet Bird on a Woven Nest
Bluebird & Wren
Join artists Fran Carr and Cindy Darabi for a fun-filled educational arts workshop. Weave a birds nest from Cat's Claw vine and handcraft a papier mache bird! Learn the art of hand-held puppetry to make your bird fly and nest. Take home your beautiful creation after a truly inspirational morning!
Suits: From age 5 to adult.
Children aged 14 and under MUST be accompanied by a parent/carer. An emergency contact number for minors 14-18 must be provided on the day to Festival organizer. Please remember hat/sunscreen/water bottle.
Sunday 10th November 10.30am
Duration 3 hours
In The Puppet Garden
Registration essential
Bluebird &Wren are managing their own registration, The Village Puppet Festival accept no responsibility for cancellation or other issues related to workshop registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book a ticket? Yes, seating is limited, this year it is small festival.
Can I bring my dog? No, sorry, dogs are not allowed anywhere in the grounds or in Mapleton Hall.
Is this BYO alcohol? No sorry, no alcohol is permitted in grounds/hall. But feel free to bring picnic/soft drinks.
Will there be food for sale? No food trucks, sorry. Coffee, tea and soft drinks are available.
How much donation do I give? Pay what you can, our shows do require a donation, most workshops are pre-paid online. We are grateful for donations as we don't have a grant this year to run the festival.
What's happening between shows? In between shows we have roving puppeteers with puppets, there are two exhibitions of puppets, a face painter, buskers and time to sit in the shade and have a picnic.
What makes this festival different to other festivals? It is subject specific. Tickets must be booked in advance for shows and workshops, it is a very small festival and attendees are limited. There are no food trucks or stalls so please ensure you eat before arriving.
Can I drop my child off and leave? For shows and workshops all children aged 14 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult for the whole time that they are at the festival.
However, if you want to sit in the grounds while they attend their workshop or watch shows, this is fine.
I've got a baby and a toddler who always want to sit on my lap, do I book a ticket for them? Toddlers and babies can sit on your lap, just book one ticket for yourself.
Will the shows be scary, loud music, bangs etc? All shows have been devised to either educate or entertain, even the puppet clowns are cute!
For further questions contact the organizer
lbwpuppetco@gmail.com
About us
Welcome to the boundless power of imagination, the freedom to dream and the magic of play. We embrace opportunities to explore, create, and inspire. We stand for affordability, fun, and the timeless joy of theatre.
Let's re-ignite the world of play for all with the ancient art of puppetry. Puppets can capture and expand the imaginations of children and adults alike, allowing escape into realms of wonder and joy. We can create memorable experiences that leave a lasting impact fostering love for creativity.
We offer workshops, performances and interaction at events.
We connect with anyone who needs a spark of magic in their lives. Little Big World Puppet Theatre will remind you of the wonders of childhood, rekindle the joy of discovery, making you feel magical and childlike once more.
We are many things - dynamic and versatile, sometimes quiet, other times loud and entertaining. We are approachable, timeless, artistic and educational, blending theatre with play and stories.
We are dedicated to the magic of puppetry, play and imagination. Join us in creating a world where every moment is an adventure.
The work of Little Big World Puppet Company
Forest
Creating a world of puppetry for children. Over some weeks puppets, masks and structures were designed and made for a final parade in a forest setting to an audience of parents and friends.
Suitcase Theatre Workshop September to October 2024
Take an old suitase and create a performance space for puppets. An intriguing workshop where the only limit is your imagination.
Shadow Puppet and Crankie Workshop on Bribie Island
A workshop to create shadow puppets and a performance item from a cardboard box
Puppet Town Festival Mapleton, Queensland
Currently being organised, save the date for the inaugural Puppet Festival on the Sunshine Coast QLD. Held over 2 days this festival will be an absolute delight with workshops, roving, Teddy Bear and Doll picnic, performances and an opportunity to see an exhibition of many types of puppets. We are delighted to have Larrikin Puppets performing over the 2 days, Find us on Facebook to book.
Workshops & Performances
Do you wish to become a puppeteer, offer performances and make your own puppets or performance stage?
Do you need roving puppeteers for your event?
Are you looking for a puppet performance or storytelling session with puppets for your classrom, aged care residents or festival?
Workshops
From time to time puppetry workshops are offered that are affordable. Some types of workshops are unique to Queensland.
Roving at events
We offer roving for events, we have marionettes, rod puppets, flying birds, wraparound puppets like snakes and dragons. We also have a stock of larger structures.
Storytelling with puppets
We offer performances to small groups, some from a suitcase, others with staging. We only offer small scale puppet performances to keep it personal and magical.
We don't use lighting or fancy sets, Our production style is similar to looking into the mind of a child.
Events
We are proud to be the company that is offering the very first puppet festival in Queensland.
The Puppet Town Festival will have its inaugral event in 2024 at Mapleton Village Hall on November 9th and 10th 2024.
Consultancy
Catherine Steer-ONeill has been a puppetmaker for many years. She specializes in making shadow puppets, rod puppets, flying puppets, large structure, suitcase theatre, crankies, and is able to advise on becoming a street entertainer or puppeteer.
Catherine is a Masters qualified arts practitioner and would be happy to assist on your theatre show should it require advice or a puppet to be made. She can direct you in a puppet production ensuring the best experience for your audience. She also specializes in intimacy co-ordination, large scale theatre direction, actor training, playwrighting and devising using physical theatre, Commedia dell Arte, maskmaking, circus skills and teaches piano and acoustic drums, theatre audition preparation and confidence building for life and stage.
Catherine Steer-O'Neill
A lifetime of theatre and a continuing passion for all things creative.
Catherine's first professional work was in Theatre in Education at Colchester Mercury Theatre, Essex aged 16. At 21 She created Lucy Lollipops Puppet Theatre devising works using a variety of puppets touring her work around Essex, England.
Originally from London, Catherine gained an Honours degree in Performing Arts in 1995 and due to her continuing work in puppetry became known for her skills in managing large audience groups, her ability to direct plays and her creative ideas for storytelling.
Catherine was Head of Drama in one of the most challenging high schools in England undertaking musicals, Shakespeare plays and festival theatre. She was Teacher in charge of Traveller children exemplary in behaviour management delivering her classes with a philosophy of 'giving respect gains respect'.
Emigrated in 2009 to Queensland, Australia and founded Queensland School of Performing Arts an actor training school for young people in Nambour producing up to 10 productions per year of published and original work.
QSPA produced the very first Young people's Shakespeare Festival on the Sunshine Coast.
She also formed the very first youth theatres in Nambour, Maleny, Glasshouse, Beerwah, Bli Bli and Mapleton.
In 2017 Catherine gained a Masters in Performing Arts at University of The Sunshine Coast and continues to teach and direct young people and adults
She is trained in a variety of specialist theatre subjects and philosophies such as Viewpoints, Introducing Shakespeare to those new to his works, Mask, Commedia Dell Arte, Theatre of The Oppressed, Circus Skills.
In her theatre company she is an ensemble leader creating supportive, egoless groups to produce intensive, challenging productions. To this end the company uses Barestage Theatre to focus on acting and building confidence in actors. Minimal costume, no lights or elaborate staging ensures that the young actor must focus on character and acting skills gaining confidence for later work in traditional theatre or life in general.
Catherine occasionally works in secondary schools undertaking tuition in Physical Theatre, devising original work and unpacking Shakespeare plays for assignment. Catherine has directed over 45 productions and written over 25 plays.
Catherine created Little Big World Puppet Company in 2020 and is a master of puppet making and offers workshops in the community. She makes all manner of puppets from Bunraku, tabletop, shadow, large structures and runs workshops in Suitcase Theatre, Crankie making and longer workshops enabling children to make puppets for parades to family and friends.
An interesting career of puppetry, school teaching, theatre writing and directing, her work is affordable from teaching drama, to running workshops and teaching piano and drums.
Her core belief is that everyone should be able to enjoy the world of theatre and performing.