Exploring Puppetry Magic: Toby Olié and There's a Bear on My Chair
Bringing a Beloved Children's Book to Life
Puppetry fans and theatre enthusiasts, rejoice! There’s a Bear on My Chair, adapted and directed by the brilliant Toby Olié, is making its stage debut at the Imagine Festival, Southbank Centre from 18th-23rd February. This playful and visually stunning adaptation brings to life Ross Collins’ charming books with inventive puppetry and creative storytelling.
Olié, a renowned puppeteer and director, has an impressive career spanning War Horse, The Elephantom, Spirited Away, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Interviews with him have provided insights on his journey in puppetry, the challenges of adapting picture books for the stage, and his creative approach to designing characters for young audiences.
Toby Olié: A Journey in Puppetry and New Opportunities
The Joy of Puppetry
In a recent Everything Theatre interview, Olié reminisced about his early love for puppetry—starting from childhood crafts to training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. His passion led him to major productions like War Horse, where he discovered that puppetry could take centre stage and redefine theatrical storytelling.
🔗 Read the full interview on Everything Theatre
Designing Puppets for Young Audiences
In his discussion with Southbank Centre, Olié talked about the challenge of transforming Ross Collins’ expressive illustrations into fully realised puppets. Unlike some of his past work, where abstraction plays a role, he wanted Bear and Mouse to feel like they had stepped right out of the book’s pages.
🔗 Discover more in the Southbank Centre’s How I Create interview
Explore Puppetry with Toby Olié
Meet the Artist: Toby Olié
Olié is also leading a Puppetry in Motion course as part of Central's Artist Development Programme. This three-week intensive will explore puppetry techniques and theatre-making, ideal for those with a background in performance looking to expand their skills.
🔗 Find out more and apply here
Why You Should See There’s a Bear on My Chair
🎭 Playful Puppetry – A visually inventive adaptation that brings the hilarious antics of Bear and Mouse to life.
📚 Faithful to the Books – Fans of Ross Collins’ work will delight in seeing these beloved characters on stage.
🎶 Interactive and Fun – With retro music, silly antics, and dynamic puppetry, the show promises laughs for children and adults alike.
Don’t miss out on this must-see family show at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre! Tickets and further details are available here:
Toby Olié's Upcoming Productions
For those interested in experiencing more of Olié’s incredible work, here are some of his upcoming productions:
🎭 THE BOY AND THE BEAST – 11 September 2024 - 09 February 2025 | Shiki Theatre Company 🔗 More Info
🧸 There’s A Bear On My Chair – 18 - 23 February 2025 | Southbank Centre 🔗 More Info
🐭 There’s A Bear On My Chair – 27 February - 02 March 2025 | The Egg, Bath 🔗 More Info
♠️ Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – 13 - 28 June 2025 | Royal Ballet & Opera 🔗 More Info
🎭 SPIRITED AWAY – 14 July - 03 August 2026 | Shanghai Cultural Square 🔗 More Info
🐊 THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE – 08-10 August 2025 | Theatre Royal Windsor 🔗 More Info
🐊 THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE – 15 August - 07 September 2025 | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre 🔗 More Info
👣 THE BFG – 25 November 2025 - 31 January 2026 | Royal Shakespeare Company 🔗 More Info
👣 THE BFG – 16 March - 12 April 2026 | Chichester Festival Theatre 🔗 More Info
Puppetry Magic at Imagine Festival 2025
Puppetry is set to be a delightful part of Imagine Festival 2025, offering families the chance to enjoy creative storytelling at the Southbank Centre. While the festival features a wide range of performances and activities, these shows highlight the magic of puppetry for young audiences: