Why Join the Guild?
The British Puppet Guild has brought together puppeteers, model theatre performers and enthusiasts of both for almost 100 years. Our membership covers all genres of puppetry; glove, hand, rod, shadow and marionettes. Whether you perform on television, on the stage or in a booth or you may just enjoy watching puppets and Toy Theatre shows and finding out what’s going on in the sector, there’s something for everyone in the Guild! So what are you waiting for? Read about us here and join the largest puppetry organisation in the UK today!
Just before you do that, read what some of our members say about why they joined the Guild.
"Since joining the Guild in 2023 (encouraged by Andy Evans), I have met so many inspiring puppeteers, some early in their career and others with a lifetime of puppetry. A highlight of being a Guild member was performing at the Centenary Lunch in Banbury, performing to a room of puppeteers, receiving such kind and elating responses. It’s hard to feel nervous at a BPG event, as you meet so many members in such a short space of time, finding out about their puppetry experience, meeting many puppets along the way. I recommend submitting an article to The Puppet Master. I enjoyed contributing to the last edition, reflecting on two years of work in puppetry and getting excited for what is in store for the future."
- Samuel Pearson
"Why join the British Puppet Guild you may ask? Well, here you will find the most incredible and talented group of people that will welcome you with open arms. It’s such a supportive and inclusive family to be a part of. I’ve learnt so much through connecting with other members of the guild, as well as getting to meet at different guild events and solidifying the fact that this amazing art form is being celebrated by people who just get it! So if you are wondering where you fit in the puppetry world, the British Puppet Guild is where you should start! "
- Lizzie Cresswell
"I joined the British Puppet Guild to feel like a part of a community that I have long admired from a distance. I have been accepted with warmth and enthusiasm. I am early on in my puppetry career as a disabled puppeteer, and I hope and believe that being a part of the guild will allow me to share my creativity and show that disability doesn’t have to stop you from following your dreams. I know that the guild will help and support me to make my creative visions a reality because they aren’t gatekeeping the knowledge they have, they share freely and openly to anyone who shares this wonderful passion."
- Samantha Webb
"It is a joy to be part of the Puppet Guild. I’ve never met a group of people so welcoming and supportive. I felt out of my depth and isolated in my craft before I joined the Guild, quietly making puppets with hopes of seeing them being performed but with no idea how to coordinate such a feat. The Guild has provided a fantastic community with an ethos that has given my creative drive a brilliant boost. The guild is comprised of a group of spectacularly talented, friendly individuals who I can approach for advice and help. My year is now highlighted with great events which provide a connection to the other members. This is vital for me as a maker who often finds herself alone in a shed!"
- Naomi Hargraves
"Being a member of the Guild gives me a sense of community, network and support within the UK Puppetry world. I became a member of the Guild, because I believe in changing the face of puppetry and puppeteers in the UK, by challenging its diversity, and inclusion within the puppetry world in 2023 and beyond. I believe the Guild will help and support my vision; therefore, I am excited to move into the future with the Guild."
- Jess Parker-Hewitt (Parker Puppetry)
"I find out about current puppetry events and historical information in the newsletter and enjoyed meeting other puppeteers at events. Members have been welcoming and generous with their time and encouragement as I am just beginning my involvement with Puppetry. I became a member in 2020 (aged 10) because I had an interest in the Muppets at first and started collecting my own puppets. The more I looked into Puppetry, the more I found out about different forms of Puppets. Being a member of the Guild helped me link up with puppeteers, to enjoy Puppetry and develop my skills gradually."
- Joseph Rickwood