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A new puppet theatre in Newcastle has been vandalised, just days after reaching its fundraising target to establish a permanent space.
Moving Parts Arts, the organisation behind the popular Newcastle Puppetry Festival, was preparing to transform an abandoned AA call centre in Elswick into a creative hub for puppetry and community arts.
On Tuesday, artistic director Kerrin Tatman discovered the space had been broken into, with a collection of handmade puppets damaged or destroyed.
A Heartbreaking Loss for Newcastle’s Arts Scene
Many of the puppets had been created in workshops with schools, care homes, and community groups.
“These puppets represent the love and creativity of so many children and members of our community,” Kerrin said.
“It was heartbreaking to see so many carefully crafted pieces thrown about and stamped on. These are not things you can put a price on in monetary terms.”
The specialised puppet theatre space was set to host community workshops and additional puppetry performances, expanding on the success of the annual festival.
Challenges in Arts Funding
Moving Parts Arts shared that this year’s April puppetry festival engaged over 28,000 people across Newcastle. However, difficulties in securing funding had already prompted a scaled-back vision for the 2025 festival.
Margaret Pinder, chair of Moving Parts Arts’ board of trustees, condemned the vandalism, describing it as a “thoughtless and cruel act.”
“Funding for the arts is tighter every year,” she said. “Kerrin and the team work tirelessly, and the trustees are incredibly proud of their contribution to Newcastle’s arts scene.”
Plans to Rebuild the Puppet Theatre
Despite the setback, plans to open the puppet theatre space remain on track, with the launch scheduled for April 2025 to coincide with the festival.
Moving Parts Arts is determined to continue its mission of fostering creativity, providing arts workshops, and showcasing puppetry performances to the Newcastle community and beyond.
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