Puppet masters will be pulling their own strings to teach residents about the craft behind popular productions like War Horse this summer.

Puppetry companies Scamp Theatre and Smoking Apples will be joining the line-up at story-telling festival Kingston Connections next month.

Smoking Apples will be offering workshops at the Rose Theatre every weekend during the festival.

Molly Freeman, 24, co-artistic director, said: “There has been quite a resurgence of puppetry in theatre in the last five years. War Horse contributed to that.

“It has become more popular, and we are running workshops on how to operate puppets. There will also be a more theoretical side to it, on how to direct them.”

The company aims to make the craft accessible by teaching people how to manipulate household objects.

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Miss Freeman said: “We want to show people this is puppetry at its basic level.

“It is object manipulation with the things that you have around you, and how you animate those things. It is easy for people to do in their own home.”

Meanwhile, Scamp Theatre will be touring their hit children’s show Tiddler and other Terrific Tales, based on a book by Julia Donaldson.

Teresa Burns, 26, company administrator, said: “The music and the use of the story and characters bring it to life. At one point a frog is made out of a handbag in one move.

“It is aimed at children but we love that adults can get something from it. It is very funny and whimsical, and every parent or grandparent could go and have a laugh from it.”

With props and an original live score, the show is returning for a second year at the Rose Theatre.

The Kingston Connections festival takes place between June 22 and 30. For more information on the events and to book tickets visit: rosetheatrekingston.org.