Rail passengers will be entertained by puppets
Published date: 16 September 2010 | Published by: Richard Jones
PASSENGERS on the Machynlleth to Pwllheli train line will experience a journey with a difference on Saturday, September 18, as the train takes part in a two-day Puppetry Festival.
The Festival, a Theatr Harlech initiative sponsored by the Arts Council of Wales and Cyngor Gwynedd, is being organised in order to showcase the talented puppetry companies in Wales alongside other weird and wonderful acts from Europe.
On the train, there will be an opportunity to experience traditional string puppetry by Wales’ very own Cwmni Cortyn and meet characters such as Chaz, the charming and rather shy metallic mute as well as Lejo, the Dutch puppeteer who creates fascinating puppet theatre with just his bare hands and a pair of wooden eyes.
There will also be a chance to peer down a ‘belescope’ into a belly button to see the drama unfold inside a huge tummy.
The entertainment won’t finish there either. On the platforms, passengers will be met by the knight Sir Lupin and his downtrodden serfs, and Atom, Chaz’s older and much taller brother will be meeting and greeting before paying Harlech Castle a visit and riding the donkeys on Barmouth beach!
Besides the shananigans on the trains and platforms, the Puppet Train will be stopping at four theatres en-route, where audiences can disembark and see some of Europe’s greatest puppetry shows.
These will include the beautiful and moving Journey of Turtle at the Tabernacle in Machynlleth at 10am.
To book theatre tickets on the Saturday, contact venues directly: Tabernacle, Machynlleth 01654 703355. All tickets £5 .
There will be puppeteers on the 11am Machynlleth to Barmouth train.
