Community Projects
The Puppet Barge has delivered a number of outreach programmes engaging local children and young people in the art of puppetry.
We work with local schools and community groups delivering workshops and hosting groups for performances throughout the year. Since 2023 we have deliver 6 Holiday Activity Clubs, 4 Arts Award courses, hosted more than 130 school/community groups for just £1 per person.
Our work has been funded by Arts Council England, John Lyons Charity, The Chapman Charitable Trust, The Backstage Trust, The Foyle Foundation, Westminster City Council.
We would like to thank our main partners The Floating Classroom and Westminster Children’s University
“Young people had an amazing time creating their own puppets from everyday objects—the session was fun, engaging and everyone said they had learned something new. Thank you to the Puppet Barge and the Floating Classroom for this unique experience.” – Angela Poulima, DreamArts Project Producer
Arts Award Explore Level
Holiday Activity Clubs in partnership with The Floating Classroom
Feedback from our Holiday Club:
‘I want to say an enormous THANK YOU for the fantastic work they did with our children last week. It was truly excellent. The whole concept is lovely, from making the puppets, making up stories, making more puppets and background and eventually putting on a show for their carers. The two very different puppet shows were also marvellous and they really got involved. It was great for them to see the various ways in which puppets can be used to tell stories, including seeing the marionettes on the barge, and then making their own different show. The use of the musician and Polly telling their stories made this really special and helped the children rise to the occasion.’
Bernadette fromVirtual Schools
Some of the schools we have worked with in the last 3 years include:
Edward Wilson, Wilberforce, St Josephs, Mary Patterson, King Solomon Academy, The Portman Centre, Queen Elizabeth Jubilee School, St Vincents, Betty Layward, Queens Park, The Complete Works, West Hampstead, Ark Atwood, St Stevens, IMPS play group, Kingfisher School, Thomas Reade, Carswell, Caldecott and Dunmore.
Some of the community groups we have worked with in the last 3 years include:
South Hampstead and Kilburn Community Partnership, Fences and Frontiers, Dream Arts, Curzon and Fawood Family Wellbeing Centre, One Westminster, Remark, Family Friends Community Group, Home Start Westminster, Brains Park Games, After School Dreams and Preston Park Family Wellbeing Centre.
"On behalf of everyone at Fences&Frontiers, I wanted to express our heartfelt thanks for the kind donation of free tickets to the Anansi and the Lost Sun. We had an absolutely magical time on the Puppet Theatre Barge, and the performance was so inspiring.
Your generosity allowed us to create a special experience for our group, and we truly appreciate the opportunity.'“
Arta from Fences and Frontiers
