ANYONE, young or old, who did not go to the puppet show at the Old Town Hall, Crediton, missed half-an-hour of sheer delight. Everyone leaving the hall, even in the atrocious weather, grinning from ear-to-ear, not unlike the puppets they had just seen!
We never miss these performances which get better every time, leaving us amazed at the talents of the "His Handiwork" Puppet team, who not only write and perform their show but also create the puppets from an amazing variety of materials, also recording the voices, the music and the sound effects.
The whole theme was based on the Nativity and many of the characters were animals, including close-harmony sheep, camels performing a sand-dance and a couple of donkeys.
Apart from these, the humans were the Wise Men, Joseph and Mary and a beat group led by Roy Orbison.
The show must be seen to be fully appreciated and was completely free, including refreshments and not a collection box in sight. Although presented by The Crediton Community Church, there was absolutely no obligation to join in their beliefs, the Team obviously enjoying presenting the show as much as the audience loved watching it.
When you go to the next one and you must, I am sure that the players would take you back-stage to see the puppets close-up and see how they do it. Only then will you appreciate the skill and work that goes into every perfomance.
Finally, the Puppet Team travel around. We saw them at the Blue Cross fete in Shobrooke Park back in the summer, where their animals joined the real ones!
I believe they are well booked ahead, but would be ideal entertainment for school parties or large private parties.
However, much as I love them I am not their publicity manager, but the Crediton Community Church is.
I am sure they would be pleased to acknowledge any enquiries.
Peter Phillput
Flat 16
Redvers House
Union Road
Crediton