Hundreds of puppets to be displayed at two-day festival in Rugby

Puppets, illusions, creative arts and storytelling are to be the focus of a two-day festival that is returning to Warwickshire for the first time in three years. Photo supplied

Rugby College, part of college group WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) is set to welcome the newly-named Equip Festival to its Rugby base on October 28 and 29.

Previously known as the Puppet and Creative Ministry Festival, the event is back at the third time of asking due to two cancellations due to the Covid pandemic, and is hoping to make a grand return to the calendar by inspiring, encouraging and resourcing creative arts enthusiasts.

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Approximately 250 people are expected at the event, with more than 750 puppets on display and in use at the festival.

A varied programme has been devised with feedback from past festivals in mind, with the partnership between WCG and event organisers One Way UK t hrough the festival stretching back to 2013.

Ian Jones, managing director at One Way UK, said: “It’s great to be taking our show on the road again, and we are back with a bang this year with a fantastic selection of hands-on workshops, incredible showcases to wow and inspire, a huge range of resources on display, and with dedicated youth and family ministry training.

“We hope the 2022 Equip Festival will generate buzz, excitement and fun for everyone who walks through the doors of Rugby College, whose vast and versatile ground floor space has provided us with the perfect opportunity to mark the first year of the event’s rebrand with an expanded programme.

“To have both the support of our longstanding partners at WCG and Rugby’s central location, accommodation options and useful connectivity links available to us this year is exciting.

“We hope to welcome budding creative arts enthusiasts, as well as veterans, to the event – and we can’t wait to equip them with information to help feed their passion.”

Angela Long, conference and events coordinator at WCG, said: “Now in its ninth year, the Equip Festival is a staple in our calendar, and we’re delighted to be welcoming our partners at One Way UK and so many creative arts enthusiasts to Rugby for this year’s event.”

To find out more and to book a place at the event, go to: www.onewayuk.com/festival