TUNBRIDGE WELLS PUPPETRY FESTIVAL 2026
WHAT’S ON
26 – 31 October

The Pantiles

Walkabout performances from midday, once every hour for 20 minutes.

12 – 12:20

1 – 1:20

2 – 2:20

3 – 3:20

FREE no need to book, just turn up

Project Wolf is a brand-new medieval immersive performance, crafted by Sonny Puppets and the opening session for Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival 2026.

Inspired by the original Cumbrian folklore and The Last Wolf Book by Mrs Jerome Mercer, Join local talented puppeteer, Sonny D and actors on this walkabout immersive puppetry session. 

Medieval fancy dress is highly encouraged!

Royal Victoria Place, Upper Plaza

Southern Thai Shadow Puppet Theatre – Free no need to book, just turn up

11am, 1pm and 3pm

Workshop One – 11.30 – Book here 

Workshop Two – 1.30 – Book here

This programme celebrates the rich tradition of Thai puppetry through an immersive cultural experience designed for families, children, and audiences of all ages. Blending live performance, storytelling, audience participation, and creative workshops, it invites participants to explore the unique puppet traditions of Central and Southern Thailand. Through interactive performances and hands-on activities, audiences will discover the beauty of Thai literature, mythology, and folklore while gaining a deeper appreciation of Thailand’s living cultural heritage.

The Pantiles @ 1pm

16 Mount Pleasant Rd @ 1.30pm

Millenium Clock Tower @2pm.

FREE no need to book, just turn up

Delivered by Weldon, a London-based performer of Peking Opera and Sichuan Opera, interdisciplinary artist, and cultural educator, the Face-Changing performance combines the traditional art of Sichuan Opera face-changing with contemporary Western pop music. Rooted in classical performance techniques, the programme uses modern rhythms and sound design to create a fresh and dynamic stage experience, presenting the vitality of Sichuan Opera in today’s global cultural exchange.Details coming soon.

Royal Victoria Place

Performances 11am,12.15pm,1.30pm and 2.45pm (FREE no need to book, just turn up)

Workshop One – 11.15am – Please pre-book workshops Book here 

Workshop Two – 1.45pm – Please pre-book workshops  Book here

Saraswati has delighted audiences in many places both in Britain and abroad since 1992. She dances along to live instruments in traditional Rajasthani folk style, as well as reacting to her audience in her own particular way. She appeals to old and young alike.

Southborough Civic Centre

3pm

A family shadow theatre show for adults and children.

Set in the present day, Gaby Gulliver, an eight-year-old child, is sent on an errand into the woods for her mum…

Gaby finds herself in another universe, a weird but wonderful world… then another, and another, as she travels on a magical journey through time and space!

Along the way, regardless of where she is, the problems seem the same as at home…

Gaby’s journey into these parallel universes is one of survival and enlightenment in this contemporary reimagining of Gulliver’s Travels by Indigo Moon Theatre.

Southborough Civic Centre

2pm

Ahoy me hearties! Put on your Sea Legs and join Shadrack the lighthouse keeper for a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas as he narrates the thrilling story of Three Little Pirate Pigs. Tired of playing piggy-in-the-middle, our fearless trio decide on a game of pirates and treasure hunts. First they must build a boat! Should it be made of straw, sticks or bricks?