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Commissioned by The Wonderful Phantasmagoria and generously funded by Arts Council England, this project involved the design and creation of a magical travelling emporium – a mobile, imaginative workshop space intended to spark creativity and connection in communities across Thameside and beyond. Developed in close collaboration with the client, the emporium was constructed using vintage suitcases and reclaimed materials, reflecting a strong commitment to sustainability, storytelling and a playful, inclusive design. Each element was thoughtfully crafted to embody the organisation’s creative and community-driven ethos. The Magical Travelling Emporium was officially launched at Portland Basin Museum in Ashton-under-Lyne in December 2024, where it was met with enthusiasm and curiosity from visitors of all ages.
In partnership with the National Trust Hawkshead, we delivered two days of festive, hands-on workshops at the Beatrix Potter Gallery in the Hawkshead Christmas Fair. Visitors of all ages took part in creating Christmas wreaths and decorative robins, using only reclaimed and scrap materials.
As part of Harbour Fest and in partnership with Rosehill Theatre, and Handpicked Productions, we brought a full day of creative activity to the harbour promenade. Our travelling scrapstore caravan – the Ragtag Roadshow – offered drop-in scrap art workshops where festival-goers of all ages got hands-on, transforming recycled materials into colourful, imaginative creations. Adding to the fun was a special outing for Rusty Robot, our 16ft-high puppet, who delighted the crowds with high-fives, dance moves and playful interaction throughout the day. It was a vibrant celebration of creativity, sustainability and community spirit by the sea.
In Collaboration with Whitehaven Coast National Trust, we delivered our most remote and windswept roadshow event yet – set high on the cliffs beside the historic Haig Pit, just outside Whitehaven. Despite the wild coastal conditions, we spent two magical days crafting with families and playing in our loose parts playground. Surrounded by sea views and open skies, the event was a joyful celebration of creativity, nature and community in a truly unique setting.
We had an incredible day at Escape To Make’s Green Festival in Morecambe, where we delivered the full Ragtag Roadshow experience. The day featured live children’s shows from Rag and Tag, hands-on scrap art workshops and our ever-popular Loose Parts Playground – offering something creative and fun for everyone. A big thank you to More Music for hosting us and helping create a vibrant, welcoming space for play, performance and sustainable making by the sea.
Our biggest event of the year – and it didn’t disappoint! We spent an unforgettable three days at Kendal Calling 2024, joining the brilliant Kids Calling crew for a wild weekend of creativity and adventure on the high seas. With the help of an incredible team of volunteers, we brought the full Ragtag Roadshow to life: sea-faring scrap art workshops, joyful live children’s shows with Rag and Tag, a giant cardboard shipwreck, our ever-popular Loose Parts Playground and a spectacular Kids Calling parade to top it all off. It was a weekend full of colour, imagination and community spirit – one we won’t soon forget!
In partnership with Stomping Ground and the Holiday Activity And Food (HAF) Scheme, we delivered three incredible days of wild, free play in Kendal Community Garden. The Summer Play Days project is like a mini festival for children, where they shape their own experience by choosing from a wide range of activities. With an amazing group of children and young people, the garden came alive with foraging, woodland crafts, campfire cooking, clay play, circus skills, scrap art and loose parts play. It was a joyful celebration of creativity, exploration and the freedom to play on their own terms.
Peggy was commissioned by The Kendal Torchlight Carnival in September 2022 and brought to lif by artist Emily, working closley with the community through a series of inclusive workshops over the summer. From young children to adults, people of all ages had a hand in her creation, making Peggy a true community effort. She made her grand debut leading a quarter of the Torchlight Parade, proudly walking from Heron Hill to the centre of Kendal. There, she joined the celebrations alongside three other large puppets and countless community entries, becoming a highlight of the event. Peggy is a magnificent three-person puppet, complete with four moving legs, a swaying tail and a graceful, articulated neck. She currently lives in our festivals warehouse – but she’s always ready for her next adventure!
Rusty the Robot was brought to life for the Kendal Torchlight Carnival in September 2022, thanks to a creative commission and the artistic vision of Josh, who worked closely with the local community through a series of inclusive workshops over the summer. From curious children to skilled adults, people of all ages had a hand in building Rusty, making him a true symbol of community spirit. Rusty made his grand debut setting off from Kendal College, leading a section of the Torchlight Parade with energy and charm. Standing and impressive 5 metres tall, he is carried on a backpack by the main puppeteer, with two additional performers operating his articulated arms. Rusty’s expressive head moves thoughtfully as he interacts with the crowd, bringing him to life in a way that captured the hearts of spectators. He paraded proudly alongside other giant puppets and countless community entries, quickly becoming a crowd favourite. Rusty is a striking three-person puppet, complete with a moving head, animated arms and loads of personality. Though he now resides in our festival warehouse, Rusty is always ready for his next big adventure. Get in touch to hire him!
In September 2022, we transformed the front garden of Kendal’s Parish Church into a vibrant and welcoming children’s activity area for Kendal Torchlight Carnival. The space was brought to life with giant flowers, a colourful windmill,and strings of bunting, creating a playful and inviting atmosphere for families. Children took part in painting lessons and helped decorate a giant cardboard garden, bringing it to life with colour and imagination. A loose parts play area encouraged open-ended exploration and creativity, while nearby craft stations kept little hands busy making their own creations. One of the day’s highlights was the chance to meet Peggy the Pegasus, our magical giant puppet, who enchanted visitors with her graceful presence and friendly interactions.
The Magic Lantern was commissioned for the newly formed theatre company of the same name, with support from Arts Council England. Designed and built by Josh, in collaboration with a talented team of performers and puppeteers, this travelling shadow puppet caravan is a celebration of craft, creativity and community. Constructed mostly from reclaimed timber, the Magic Lantern is a curious contraption that roams the land with its crew of storytellers, musicians and puppeteers – lighting up woodlands, bringing laughter to doorsteps and weaving magic wherever it goes. At its heart is a large shadow puppet screen, where enchanting tales come to life for audiences of all ages. Thoughtfully designed, the caravan features open side windows to allow puppeteers to interact directly with the crowd, making every show a unique and engaging experience. Inside, a small wood-burning stove keeps performers warm on colder nights and clever built-in storage holds a beautiful collection of handcrafted puppets. The Magic Lantern is more than a theatre on wheels – it’s a travelling story-box, designed by Josh to gather tales, share joy and spark wonder wherever it stops.
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