Upfront Puppet Theatre
Kristy Stott, Theatre EditorFounded in 1997 by John Parkinson, theatre designer and artist, and educator Elaine Parkinson, Upfront Puppet Theatre is one of only four puppet theatres in England.
Sitting beautifully within the sympathetically converted 17th-century farm buildings, the puppet theatre is located within the Upfront Gallery near Penrith. Complete with authentic puppeteer bridges and a pit for working rod puppets, the theatre regularly offers puppet-making workshops to their visitors.
The site also houses a vegetarian restaurant and the gallery offers a varied program of free exhibitions throughout the year.
Upfront Puppet Theatre was named the Cumbrian Small Arts Venue of the Year and the Tourism Experience of the Year from Cumbria Tourist Board in 2015.