The Barge
About the Puppet Theatre Barge
The Puppet Theatre Barge is one of the UK’s most unique theatre venues, a 50 seat theatre inside a converted barge. We have been putting on a programme of unique and magical puppet shows for over forty years.
The audience begin their journey as soon as they step onto the gangplank and climb aboard. They descend below the water line (wellingtons not necessary) and leave the real world behind. Puppets from other parts of the world hang from the walls in retirement. The theatre’s golden curtain is softly lit and banks of seats slope gently to the roof. A ship’s bell is rung, the audience falls silent in anticipation. Music plays, the lights dim, the theatre goes dark and finally the curtain rises to the delight of children and adults alike.
For more details about your visit please see our FAQs.
History
The Puppet Theatre Barge started as a touring company called Movingstage in 1978 specialising in marionette theatre. After several years of touring the UK and the world, the company acquired a 72ft-long Thames lighter and converted it into a permanent puppet theatre. The stage was specially designed to put on shows using string marionettes, and the seating raked to ensure a good view from every seat. For the first few years, the company’s Puppet Theatre Barge was based in Camden Lock and toured the Grand Union Canal in the summer. In 1986, the Puppet Barge moved its winter base to Little Venice and each summer went up the River Thames, sometimes as far as Oxford.
The Founders
Juliet Rogers
Juliet trained and worked for many years with John Wright at the Little Angel Marionette Theatre (as it was then) before setting up the Movingstage Marionette Company in 1978.
Gren Middleton
Gren trained as a lighting cameraman and photographed numerous documentaries, feature films and TV dramas before turning to puppets and helping set up Movingstage.
You can buy "Keeping Afloat", a history of the Puppet Theatre Barge written by the founders at www.jackandmarepublishing.com/Books
