3 / 4 / 7 / 8 April | 10:30am
Set sail with Kermit, Miss Piggy and the motley Muppet crew, as they join Tim Curry's Long John Silver for a maritime Muppet-tacular adventure.
THE BOXTROLLS
5 / 6 / 9 / 10 April | 10:30am | CERT: PG th th th th
Stop-motion wizards LAIKA Studios bring their magic to this lovingly crafted adaptation of ‘Here Be Monsters!’.
PUPPET & STOP MOTION SHORT FILMS NIGHT
7 April | 7:30pm | CERT: 18+ th
Join us for an unmissable evening of shortlisted films from around the world entered into Moving Parts Puppet Fest 2026, Selected by Moving Parts, Animator Lesley-anne Rose and Tyneside Cinema.
ANIMATOR & PUPPET FILMMAKER MIXER SOCIAL
7 April | 6Pm | FREE BUT TICKETS ESSENTIAL th
Come down to Tyneside Cinema to meet and connect with other animators and puppet filmmakers! Hosted by Lesley-anne Rose (Newcastle-based animator and Puppet Films Lead for Moving Parts), and Jen Bradfield (BFI NETWORK Talent Executive, Film Hub North), this relaxed social and networking event will take place on the same evening as the Puppet & Stop Motion Short Films Night. Tickets for the Short Films Night event afterwards must be booked separately.
A BRAND NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN:
9 April | 6pm & 15 APRIL | 12:40PM th TH
Discover the spellbinding puppetry magic of Jim Henson as we revisit the utterly enchanting 1982 fantasy adventure. This Magnificent Cake! + Wander to Wonder + The Girl Who Cried Pearls
10 April | 6:30pm | CERT: 15 th
A triple bill of critically acclaimed, festival favourite international stop-motion shorts, comprising César Award nominated This Magnificent Cake!, Best Animated Short 2023 Oscar nominee Wander to Wonder and Best Animated Short 2025 Oscar nominee The Girl Who Cried Pearls.
STRINGS + Q&A WITH STEPHEN MOTTRAM
11 April | 6pm | CERT: PG th
Anders Rønnow Klarlund's stunningly crafted marionette dark fantasy, featuring the voice talents of James McAvoy and Derek Jacobi, follows a puppet Prince's path for vengeance. We are delighted to welcome lead puppeteer of ‘STRINGS’ Stephen Mottram for a very special post-film Q&A!
LITTLE OTIK (35MM)
16 April | 7:45pm | CERT: 15 th
A hauntingly dark folk tale horror from surrealist Czech animation luminary Jan Švankmajer (Alice).
design, capable of an impressive range of movements including a realistic walk.
2-day Weatherproof WORBLA Puppet Lantern
Making Course with Gretchen MaynardHahn
th th
6 - 7 April | 10am - 5pm | ages 16+ | £120
Design and build your own illuminated puppet lantern over two practical, hands-on days. You will sculpt a character head in clay before forming it in durable Worbla thermoplastic
2-day BEGINNERS MARIONETTE MAKING COURSE
with Gretchen Maynard-Hahn
th th
8 - 9 April | 10am - 5pm | ages 16+ | £120
Working from prepared lime wood blanks, you will learn safe, fundamental wood carving techniques using traditional hand tools to make Czech-style marionettes.
2-day STOP MOTION ANIMATION COURSE with Gretchen Maynard-Hahn
th th
10 - 11 April | 10am - 5pm | ages 11+ | £95
Design and build simple animation puppets inspired by animals, monsters, or hybrid creatures. Learn the fundamentals of frame-by-frame animation and producing a short clip using your own smartphones and a predownloaded animation app.
TEENY TINY TOON EXHIBITION
th th
4 - 18 April 2026 | CIVIC CENTRE NEWCASTLE
Find it in the cafe area during Civic Centre opening hours
Over the past year 500+ residents in the West
End of Newcastle have taken part in our ‘Teeny Tiny Toon’ workshops series. This exhibition brings together the rich tapestry of stories, puppets and postcards shared and created along the way, and includes a community film in collaboration with Von Fox Promotions.
Gretchen Maynard-Hahn
workshops taking place at Paddy Freeman’s Pavilion, Paddy Freeman’s Park, Heaton, NE2 2EY Tickets bookable at MOVINGPARTSARTS.COM/whatson only 15 places available per workshop!
Muppet Treasure Island (30 Anniversary) th
3 / 4 / 7 / 8 April | 10:30am rd th th th
Set sail with Kermit, Miss Piggy and the motley Muppet crew, as they join Tim Curry's Long John Silver for a maritime Muppet-tacular adventure.
THE BOXTROLLS
th th th th
5 / 6 / 9 / 10 April | 10:30am | CERT: PG
Stop-motion wizards LAIKA Studios bring their magic to this lovingly crafted adaptation of ‘Here Be Monsters!’.
PUPPET & STOP MOTION SHORT FILMS NIGHT
7 April | 7:30pm | CERT: 18+ th
Join us for an unmissable evening of shortlisted films from around the world entered into Moving Parts Puppet Fest 2026, Selected by Moving Parts, Animator Lesley-anne Rose and Tyneside Cinema.
ANIMATOR & PUPPET FILMMAKER MIXER SOCIAL
7 April | 6Pm | FREE BUT TICKETS ESSENTIAL th
Come down to Tyneside Cinema to meet and connect with other animators and puppet filmmakers! Hosted by Lesley-anne Rose (Newcastle-based animator and Puppet Films Lead for Moving Parts), and Jen Bradfield (BFI NETWORK Talent Executive, Film Hub North), this relaxed social and networking event will take place on the same evening as the Puppet & Stop Motion Short Films Night Tickets for the Short Films Night event afterwards must be booked separately.
A BRAND NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN:
TICKETS BOOKABLE THROUGH TYNESIDECINEMA.CO.UK
THE DARK CRYSTAL
9 April | 6pm & 15 APRIL | 12:40PM th TH
Discover the spellbinding puppetry magic of Jim Henson as we revisit the utterly enchanting 1982 fantasy adventure.
This Magnificent Cake! + Wander to Wonder
+ The Girl Who Cried Pearls
10 April | 6:30pm | CERT: 15 th
A triple bill of critically acclaimed, festival favourite international stop-motion shorts, comprising César Award nominated This Magnificent Cake!, Best Animated Short 2023 Oscar nominee Wander to Wonder and Best Animated Short 2025 Oscar nominee The Girl Who Cried Pearls.
STRINGS + Q&A WITH STEPHEN MOTTRAM
11 April | 6pm | CERT: PG th
Anders Rønnow Klarlund's stunningly crafted marionette dark fantasy, featuring the voice talents of James McAvoy and Derek Jacobi, follows a puppet Prince's path for vengeance. We are delighted to welcome lead puppeteer of ‘STRINGS’ Stephen Mottram for a very special post-film Q&A!
LITTLE OTIK (35MM)
16 April | 7:45pm | CERT: 15 th
A hauntingly dark folk tale horror from surrealist Czech animation luminary Jan Švankmajer (Alice).