PUPPET PICNIC
A magical collection of puppet tales that will transport audiences from cozy riverbanks to unexpected adventures! This unique theatrical experience brings together beloved characters and brand-new stories in an unforgettable afternoon of visual storytelling. Perfect for families, puppet enthusiasts, and anyone who believes in the magic of live performance! Come hungry for wonder—this picnic feeds the imagination. The Performances:
“Flourish” — Jennifer Marlow
Step into the gentle world of Mole and Ratty as they embark on charming Riverbank adventures. This heartwarming tale captures the spirit of friendship and the simple joys of nature, perfect for dreamers of all ages.
“New Musical Adventure” — Teresa Bergen & Kim Barlow
Experience an innovative puppet performance that tells its story entirely through music, movement, and stunning visuals. Follow the journey of a determined character who knows exactly what she wants as she encounters a troublesome hotelier. With original songs that thoughtfully weave together themes of standing up for yourself and caring for our world, this performance offers entertainment with heart and substance.
“A Shadow Puppet Tale” — Kerry Flynn
Experience the magic of the Brothers Grimm through captivating shadow puppetry as two young lovers face an enchantress’s curse that transforms Jorinda into a songbird. Watch Joringel’s mystical quest to find the magical red flower that can break the spell, guided by the angel Zachiel through enchanted forests and dramatic battles between light and darkness. This mesmerizing performance combines intricate silhouettes, coloured lighting, and custom music to bring timeless themes of love, courage, and redemption to life for audiences of all ages.
Artist Biographies:
Jennifer Marlow: Woodcarver turned puppeteer who completed her Master’s program at Academy of the Wooden Puppet (Iceland) in 2025. Currently mentored by Jim Morrow at Mermaid Theatre’s Animotion program. Presented her debut puppet show based on Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals” in 2024. Collaborates extensively with ceramicist Teresa Bergen, musician Kim Barlow, and other puppeteers on various projects.
Teresa Bergen: Ceramic artist and occasional puppeteer based in Chester, NS. BFA from NSCAD University. Her work is in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s permanent collection and private collections worldwide. Recipient of Arts Nova Scotia and Canada Council grants. Notable commissions include work for Tokyo theme park and the Kamm Teapot collection.
Kim Barlow: Musician and songwriter based in Nova Scotia. Plays guitar and clawhammer banjo, with six albums to her credit. Her 2019 release “How to Let Go” was nominated for a Nova Scotia Music Award. Now part of Coax Records label.
Kerry Flynn: Local musician and artist.
PUPPETS AFTERDARK
An Evening of Adult Puppet Theatre That Will Haunt Your Dreams
When the curtain falls on daylight puppet shows, something darker emerges from the shadows. “Puppets After Dark” invites you into a nocturnal realm where strings and silhouettes dance with our deepest fears, desires, and transformations.
“Puppets After Dark” shatters preconceptions about puppetry as children’s entertainment, revealing its power as a medium for adult storytelling. These aren’t just puppet shows—they’re rituals of transformation, explorations of identity, and celebrations of the beautiful darkness that lives within us all.
From shadow play to marionettes, from queer ritual to horror homage, this evening showcases puppetry’s capacity to make the invisible visible, to give form to our formless fears and desires. This is adult content that explores mature themes including mortality, identity, sexuality, and psychological terror.
Prepare to be transformed. Prepare to be haunted. Prepare for Puppets After Dark.
The
Performances:
Dawn Tracey Brandes opens the evening with The History of Horror: A Shadow Puppet Show—a deliciously twisted tour through cinema’s most beloved B-movie monsters. Watch as shadows come alive to celebrate the glorious ghouls and murderous mayhem that have thrilled audiences for decades. (15 minutes of pure nostalgic terror)
Logan Robins delves into the terrifying world of Sleep Demon, where ancient folklore meets modern anxiety in a dark comedy about sleep paralysis. This full-length piece explores the creatures that visit us in our most vulnerable moments, weaving together mythology, technology, and the strange comedy found in our deepest fears. (40 minutes of sleepless nights guaranteed)
Ken Flett & Jonah Rubin-Flett‘s Mourning to Morning is an intimate marionette meditation on immortality, loneliness, and redemption. More than just a vampire tale, this haunting performance explores our universal fear of vulnerability and our eternal search for connection across the centuries. Watch as eternal night gives way to the possibility of dawn. (35 minutes of beautiful darkness)
Cortney Cassidy & Kay Slauenwhite present Phosphena’s Night Out, a multimedia dreamscape that transforms the ritual of getting ready into something magical and strange. Through hand-painted backdrops, synthesizer soundscapes, and stream-of-consciousness storytelling, witness a character’s preparation for the night ahead become a surreal journey of queer identity and self-transformation.
Dr. Dawn Tracey Brandes: Puppetry scholar and Instructor at Dalhousie University’s Fountain School of Performing Arts. Her work on contemporary puppet performance has appeared in major publications including The Routledge Companion to Puppetry and Material Performance. She co-edits Canadian Theatre Review’s puppetry edition and serves as Board Secretary of UNIMA Canada.
Ken Flett: Nova Scotia-based artist from Vancouver Island whose work explores themes of love, memory, hope, and loss. Previously represented by Fran Willis Gallery and taught at Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts. His artwork is held in University of Victoria and Camosun College collections. Through puppetry, he makes the invisible visible and honors forgotten stories.
Logan “Lo” Robins (he/they): Queer environmental theatre maker and Artistic Director of The Unnatural Disaster Theatre Co., based in Herring Cove, NS. Creates devised theatre, mask work, and outdoor site-specific performances that connect audiences to nature. Recent works include “Hippoposthumous” and “The Augur.”
Cortney S. Cassidy: Emerging artist working in painting, puppetry and expanded media. Uses bright colors, collaboration, and gender ambiguous forms to explore sense and perception through a queer perspective.
Kay Slauenwhite: Media artist working in sound, installation, video, and collage. Uses collage-based approaches to explore fragmentation and transformation within bodies, systems, and culture.
Jonah Rubin-Flett: High school student working in film, animation, and puppetry. In 2023, he traveled across Canada performing puppet shows and assisting with marionette workshops.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
King’s Theatre is honoured to be on the ancestral and unceded territory of L’nu, also known as the Mi’kmaq Peoples, who have lived and cared for this land since time immemorial. We honour the Peace and Friendship Treaties and acknowledge that we are all treaty people.
The Fog Machine may be in use tonight. It is a non-toxic water-based mist
Phones/Cameras:
We ask that you turn ringers off and refrain from taking photos or videos during shows.
For the comfort of our patrons, King’s Theatre strives to be Scent-Free environment.
Please refrain from wearing scented products to events.
Please return the Reusable Cups to concession! They are available for purchase if you would like to take one home.
COMING SOON 2025
FRIDAY OCT 24 7:00 PM th
SUNDAY OCT 26 3:00 PM th
WEDNESDAY OCT 29th
7:00 PM
SATURDAY NOV 1st 7:30 PM
SUNDAY
NOV 2nd
3:00 PM
COMING SOON
FRIDAY NOV 7th
7:30 PM
WEDNESDAY NOV 12th 7:00 PM
THURSDAY NOV 13th 7:30 PM
THURSDAY NOV 13th 7:30 PM
WEDNESDAY NOV 19th 7:00 PM
FRIDAY NOV 21st 7:30 PM
KING’STHEATRE
Built in 1921, King’s Theatre has been at the heart of Annapolis Royal’s cultural community for 100 years. It is a favoured venue for performers, known for its enthusiastic audiences, intimate setting, high quality production values, and warm reception from the community.
King’s Theatre also supports emerging talent. Fostering a close relationships with the schools and the amateur drama community, there are many opportunities for talent in all genres to learn the ropes.
King’s Theatre has also served as a movie house for 100 years, transitioning from reel-to-reel to digital projection and surround sound, with programming that ranges from Indie to Hollywood, to work by filmmakers who call Annapolis home.
Staff & Board
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tracy Summerville, Chair
Margo Tait, Vice Chair
Kerrie Picken, Treasurer
Shannon Kelly, Secretary
Betsy Akin
Thea Boyanowsky
Caroline Hancock
Garth Laidlaw
Thomas May
AC Silver
Alison Warwick
Michael Westcott
STAFF
Janet Larkman, Executive Director
Tracey Harnish, Bookkeeper
Jessica Scott, Box Office & Operations Manager
Devin Fraser, Technical Director
Gregory Muszkie, House Manager
Jamie Alcorn, Sound Technican
Brynja Bachem-Jennings, Box Office and House Support
Maddie Frisby, Student Staff
Lucy Walsh, Student Staff
Moxy Manitowabi, Student Staff
Wegratefullyacknowledgethe supportofourgovernmentsponsors.
Nousreconnaissonsavecgratitude l’appuidenospartenaires gouvernementaux.
King’s Theatre is a not-for profit organization and a Registered Charity (CRA # 118981901 RR 0001).
With a donation of $25 or more, you automatically become a Member of the King’s Theatre Society.
Your donations will be eligible for a charitable tax receipt, you will be able to vote at the King’s Theatre Society Annual General Meeting, and you will have the warm glow of knowing that you are supporting your theatre.
Memberships are good for a full year from the date of the donation. Your generous gift will be recognized in the Lobby, in King’s Presentation Live Show and Stage-to-Screen programs, on screen prior to advertisements at King’s Presentation screenings, and on the King’s Theatre website.
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DONORS Thank You to Our Generous
BENEFACTOR
Jan & Cam Albright
Here’sthelistofdonorsfromthelast12months, updatedonAugust29,2025.
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