The twentieth Puppet Animation Festival

Ken Hardie of Kidgloves Puppets said that he likes children to interact with the puppets in a pantomime style and found the four- and five-year-olds at Liberton very enthusiastic. Using familiar stories, such as 'Little Red Riding Hood' and the 'Three Billy Goats Gruff', Mr Hardie weaves together a selection of stories of five to ten minutes each to make a show that invites audience participation.

Colleen Magennis of Chameleon Puppets then helped the children to create their own jointed rod puppets, encouraging them to create a certain person or animal, and to give their puppet a character. She said, 'The children grasped the concept very quickly, making some beautiful puppets, which were very much to their own designs.'

Headteacher Eileen Sharp said the morning was an excellent learning experience for the children. She said, 'There was amazing audience participation and the children loved making the puppets and moving the puppets' heads, legs and arms. As a result, we carried the theme over to the next day.'

Workshops and puppet shows will continue in more than 100 venues throughout Scotland until 3 May, with several stories aimed specifically at nursery-age children.

For more information contact the Puppet Animation Festival at the MacRobert Arts Centre, Stirling on 01786 467155, or e-mail: puppetanimation@stir.ac.uk.