
From international puppet performances to the laugh-out-loud adventure of Shrek the Musical, see the full list of events at the Skipton Town Hall.
One of England’s best celebrations of puppet theatre, the Skipton International Puppet Festival, returns to Skipton Town Hall from 16th-19th October!
Taking a different and streamlined form to previous years, Skipton International Puppet Festival 2025 will comprise of:
- Four days of public performances at Skipton Town Hall
- Free activities, exhibition, demonstrations and performances (outdoor performances on Sunday at the Albion Place Amphitheatre behind Skipton Town Hall and Pizza Express).
- The first ever Skipton International Puppetry Symposium (running Friday to Saturday) – a two-day gathering of puppetry professionals from the UK and beyond, featuring workshops, panels, and networking. Organised by North Yorkshire Council and funded by Arts Council England, the event focuses on sector growth, early-career support, and international collaboration.
The full Skipton Town Hall line-up for this month is as follows:
SKIPTON INTERNATIONAL PUPPET FESTIVAL:
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Lemba | Thursday 16th October | 6:30pm | £9 | UK premiere by Spanish Puppet Theatre company Ángeles de Trapo!
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Puppet Cabaret | Friday 17th October | 8pm | £9 |Performances from: Headstrung Puppets, Tatwood Puppets, Chaos Corner Puppets, Thingumajig Theatre, Freddie Hayes.
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At Sea | Saturday 18th October | 7:30pm | £9 | From Life and Limb Puppets an uplifting tale of a sailor’s triumph over darkness; Non-verbal, with stunning projections and music.
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Hickory Dickory Dock | Sunday 19th October | 10:30am and 2pm | £9 | Join Garlic Theatre for a merry slapstick show, starring glove puppets, silly museum curators & dozy delivery drivers.
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The Squabble | Sunday 19th October | 12:30pm and 4pm | £8.50 | Skipton based and loved Lempen Puppet Theatre return with a sensory theatre experience aimed at young children aged 3-7.]
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‘Professor Clive Chandler’s World Famous Punch' and Judy Show | Saturday 18th October 10am | Sunday 19th October 1pm | Free | A show for the young and the young at heart, including sausages, the crocodile and Mr Punch up to his usual tricks.
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Paper Theatre - Alice in Wonderland | Saturday 18th October 11am | Sunday 19th October 2:30pm | Free | Enjoy Lewis Carol’s stories from Alice in Wonderland. Join Alice down the rabbit hole and meet the Mad Hatter, March Hare and the angry Queen of Hearts. But don’t worry it’s not your head she’s after.
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Toy Theatre - The Golden Goose | Saturday 18th October | 2:30pm | Sunday 19th October | 11am | Free | A light-hearted colourful adaptation of this classic Grimms’ fairytale with live narration and atmospheric sound effects.
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Halloween Shadow Puppet Workshop | Sunday 19th October | 10am - 1pm | Free | Make and try out your own shadow puppet with Rough Magic Theatre!
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Outdoor Performances | Sunday 19th October | 10am - 4pm | Free | Featuring six imaginative puppet shows by companies including Thingumajig Theatre, Rough Magic Theatre, and Ay Up Puppet Company. Expect walkabout performances, shadow puppetry, and interactive characters like Delilah the Elephant (pictured), offering fun, music, and storytelling for all ages in a vibrant, family-friendly setting.
OCTOBER EVENTS:
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D(e)AD | Monday 13th October | 7:30pm | £7 | An independent, crowdfunded dark comedy from the U.S., D(e)AD follows Tillie and her ghost-haunted family as they try to exorcise her late father—who appears in mirrors to everyone but her. Written by Isabella Roland and directed by her mother Claudia Lonow, this autobiographical film features three generations of comedians.
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Shrek The Musical | Sunday 26th October – Saturday 1st November (excluding Tuesday 28th October) | Tickets from £16 | Skipton Musical Theatre Company presents Shrek The Musical, a fun-filled, family-friendly show celebrating 100 years of SMTC. Join Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona on a heartwarming fairy-tale adventure packed with humour, catchy songs, and theatrical magic for audiences of all ages.
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The Artery: Exhibition Ready | Sunday 12th October | 10am - 4pm | Craven Arts House | Exhibition Ready is a practical and inspiring workshop designed to help artists develop the confidence, knowledge, and strategy to prepare their work for exhibition.
FAMILY EVENTS:
- Home Education: Romans in Craven | Monday 20th October | 10am - 12pm | Free, drop-in | Join us for an interactive learning session for children aged 7–11, exploring Roman history in the Craven area. Through real and replica artefacts, participants investigate life during the Roman occupation of Britain, including figures like Cartimandua and sites such as Kirk Sinks Roman Villa
- Fossil ID session | Monday 27th October | 10am - 12pm | Free, drop-in | Are you a budding palaeontologist? Bring along your fossil finds and meet our experts, who’ll help uncover the stories behind your collection.
- Make & Take | Thursday 30th October | 11:30 - 1pm | Free, drop-in | Craven Arts House | Join us for our Make & Take family craft sessions. Our free family craft workshops are inspired by our collection. Learn about treasures from the past to inspire your creativity.
Find out more and see the full list of Skipton Town Hall events here.