| Prior to its
re-location to Shugborough in 1993, Douglas Hayward's
Puppet Collection was housed in its own Museum in the
Staffordshire Village of Abbots Bromley.
The building, a former shop premises, was
located in the main Village High Street and had a large
front room housing the main exhibition, a middle room
used for serving refreshments and a further room at the
rear of the premises devoted solely to the work of Waldo
Lanchester.
The main room also housed Douglas's
fully equipped permanent Proscenium Marionette Stage,
which was used for demonstration purposes. This
stage had previously been used for marionette
performances during the building's former life as a
Theatre (Opening Ceremony performed by Waldo Lanchester
in 1975).
Several Exhibitions and Festivals of
the British Puppet & Model Theatre Guild were held in
Abbots Bromley during the 1980s, with the Puppet Museum
forming the focal point for activities. On these
occasions, puppet performers, makers and enthusiasts
from all over the Country converged on the village and
events spread to the Village Hall and other Function
Rooms to accommodate the large number of attendees.
The Museum played an important role in
British Puppetry and over the years, hosted
performances, films, workshops, meetings, lectures and
exhibitions by both British and overseas puppeteers, as
well as providing a unique tourist attraction for the
visiting public. |
