The Puppet Animation Festival will return to venues across East Lothian this spring, as the region plays host to 7 puppet theatre companies. The Puppet Animation Festival, which began in 1984, is now the UK’s oldest and largest performing arts event for children, young people and their families, and each year more than 20,000 people enjoy events in its programme. Events will be taking place across Scotland including East Lothian, with performances taking place in local community venues.

Performances taking place in East Lothian include: Ailie Cohen’s Rumpelstiltskin, who returns with a cast of clothes pegs, a bulging wash basket and the odd colourful sock to present a delightful production; Yugen Puppet Company’s The Water Kelpie Of Loch Ness, a story taken from the Scottish rich heritage of folk tales about the most famous Scottish creature of all; The World Through Wooden Eyes presents two Russian folk stories with gentle wit and elegance in Two Little Pushkin Tales; Storybox Theatre’s The Fisherman, a stylish adaptation of the Brothers Grimm tale of the folly of greed; The Princess and the Pea, inspired of Hans Andersen’s story and created by Banyan Theatre Company among sheet and blankets, beautiful puppets and dreamlike projections; Garlic Theatre’s The Three Billy Goats Gruff, a well-known story with puppets, live music and imaginative storytelling told with a gentle ecological message; and The Frog Princess, a beautifully crafted adaptation of the well-known Russian folk tale by the popular Scottish company The Puppet Lab.

Tickets are priced at the family friendly rate of £3 for adults and £2 for children, and £1 for children aged 18 months and under. Tickets are available from Brunton Theatre’s box office on 0131 665 2240 or online at www.bruntontheatre.co.uk. Tickets will also be available at venues one hour before performances. For full details of what’s on across Scotland at this year’s Puppet Animation Festival go to www.puppetanimation.org