The Barbican Theatre team brought its popular giant Puppet Parade back to the streets of Plymouth this summer.

Following the success of the first event in St Judes last summer, which attracted nearly 1,000 people, Barbican Theatre and Above Bounds Theatre Collective brought a parade of giant ocean-themed puppets to the cobbled back alleys of Keyham.

Working with expert puppet makers Ruth Webb and Zenna Tagney, from Lostwithiel Puppets, Barbican Theatre held puppet-making workshops at St Johnstone’s Sport & Social Club in Keyham the previous month.

Working with local people (in creative bubbles to ensure safe social distancing), over the two days they built their own Funky Prawns to accompany a custom-made 7m-high fisherman puppet.

Materials used were predominantly scrap or upcycled, much of which was sourced from Plymouth Scrapstore.

Also joining the parade in Keyham were members of Barbican Theatre’s ReBels, who designed and built their own giant jellyfish, as well as members of Above Bound Theatre who brought their Fish-Go-Disco light up puppets to entertain residents.

Accompanying the parade – and getting everyone in the party spirit – was the Theatre’s own Junk Band, featuring members of ReBels who had been working with percussionist Benji Isbel.