Perth is about to be taken over by puppets!
From tomorrow, the city plays host to the 20th UNIMA Congress and World Puppetry Festival - the first time in the event’s 80-year history that it has been held in the southern hemisphere.
Tourism and Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale said the 10-day festival, from April 2 to 12, would attract about 1,000 international and interstate visitors.
“Securing the puppetry festival and congress was a real coup for Perth - it is only the third time it has been held outside of Europe,” Ms McHale said.
“There will be more than 30 performances across Perth in eight different venues.
“Performances include award winning international and Australian productions, with shows aimed at children and families - as well as some ‘adult-only’ puppet theatre.
“There is a wonderful mechanical puppetry exhibition at the WA Museum and Australia’s favourite puppet, Mr Squiggle, will be at the State Library.”
The Minister said the event would feature conferences, exhibitions, workshops, a free carnival day, a puppet caravan that would travel across Australia from the east coast, and the Million Puppet Project.
“The Million Puppet Project invites people from around the world to make and send a puppet to Perth to create a display for a new Guinness World Record - the world’s largest puppet display,” Ms McHale said.
“I’m very proud the State Government through EventsCorp and the Department of Culture and Arts are major supporters and I encourage all Western Australians to be involved in this fabulous cultural event.”
More information is available at http://www.unima2008.com
Minister's office - 9213 6700 
