Theatre art has existed in Great Britain for a long time. People have always craved spectacle and entertainment. A theatre showed them a completely different world, which is filled with vivid emotions and sensations. The first puppet theatres appeared in London in the 1600s. They had their own distinguishing features and the format of the performances. Usually, such theatres moved from one city to another. Nowadays, one of the most famous ones is the Puppet Theatre Barge. It was founded relatively recently, but its location and the performances are impressive. Learn more at ilondon.info.
The beginning of the story
It is considered that the first premiere of that theatre took place in 1978. However, it didn’t have a permanent place of housing. It was a kind of touring company called Movingstage. Its performances were shown not only in London and Great Britain but also all over the world. Juliet Rogers and Gren Middleton were the founders of the Puppet Theatre. The woman was in love with the theatre and for several years studied and worked in the Little Angel Theatre. Later, she decided to create her own business and Gren, her cameraman, joined her. Later, the founders will write in a book about their theatre that it was the dream that gave them energy, determination, naivety and recklessness. They travelled around the world for several years and then bought a river barge, which is still very popular and visited by tourists from different parts of the world. The above-mentioned information is reported by Puppet Theatre Barge.
The 72-foot-long barge was converted into a theatre. The founders tried their best to create a space that would look like a traditional theatre. They slightly angled the seats to ensure a good view from any point. The most difficult challenge was to create the stage, the most important element of the theatre. The main task was to install all the construction needed for the puppet show. The restoration of the barge was completed in 1982. It didn’t remain stationary and constantly moved around. In 1988, the theatre moved to Little Venice but occasionally toured other places. In particular, summer tours were especially popular.
A fascinating world of theatrical art
Inside the barge, visitors can immediately plunge into another world because of the entrance decorations. Here, visitors see puppets that are no longer used in performances hanging on the walls. Each of them hides its amazing story and reflects the vibes of the place. All of them are brought from different countries of the world. Descending, the audience enters the hall to see a golden curtain and rows of seats. Rays of light that barely penetrate the room create an amazing atmosphere here. Then the ship’s bell sounds and the lights go out. This moment is the most intriguing in the entire performance, as it is the point from which the real miracle begins. Puppets appear on the stage and, as if alive, begin to move and perform their special role in this miniature life.
The performance usually lasts about an hour. The theatre always tries to present new creative masterpieces. For example, they often use the music of truly talented, but almost unknown composers. In general, everything here looks like a traditional theatre. There is a hall, a curtain, a stage and scenery, music accompaniment, lights adjusting and a bathroom. Also, you can buy cold drinks and snacks in the breaks between parts of the performance. This wonderful place will impress everyone and fill life with new colours.