Each Thistle Theatre production proudly brings together professional puppeteers, handcrafted puppets, artists and musicians to create unique & diverse puppet theatre productions for the entire family. We offer productions that tour or are part of our family and school puppet theatre season.

Creative sets, costumes, lively storytelling, and original musical scores are the hallmarks of Thistle Theatre productions. Each production is carefully crafted to reach many levels of understanding, our productions delight audiences from ages 3 to 93!  

Thistle Theatre specializes in Bunraku, a variation of the ancient Japanese style of puppetry where the puppeteers are dressed head-to-toe in black and operate the puppets from behind allowing for excellent manipulation and realistic movement. An amazing variety of characters fill the stage this season, telling and singing stories that will capture the imagination. Rod, body, shadow and blacklight puppets are featured along with the traditional Bunraku-style puppets. 

Through Thistle Theatre's Children's Ticket Subsidy Fund we are able to give discounted or free tickets to low-income children and families at all three of our locations. We invite you to add a donation to your ticket order this season to support our effort to bring quality puppet theatre to children in need.

We sincerely thank our corporate donors 4Culture - King County Lodging Tax, The Seattle Foundation, Allied Arts Foundation and our generous individual donors for their support.

Together with the Thistle Theatre Board, artists and puppeteers I look forward to you joining us for a magical season of puppet theatre.

Jean Enticknap - Artistic Director

Announcing our 2007-8 Season
of Puppet Theatre for Families!

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK - England
MERRY CHRIS MOUSE - USA
HANAKO AND THE CHERRY TREE - Japan
THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF - Norway

Tickets are on sale now!
call 206 524-3388 or Click Here to Order Online

You may also purchase Thistle Theater performance tickets from Brown Paper Tickets.
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Attention Teachers!
Tickets $6 per child/chaperone - teacher free!
Book 2 shows for  $5.50 per person per show
Book 3 or 4 shows  $5.00 per person per show

Summer Puppet Class!
photo by Kathleen Imanishi

Hand puppets made in the summer of 2007 in the Thistle Theatre studio. Children learned how to carve styro-foam, layer paper- mache, sand heads, paint, cut patterns and hand sew. Older children (who could reach the foot control) learned how to use the sewing machine to sew the puppet bodies and puppet vests from fleece and felt.

This workshop was not for the faint of heart...it was hard work! From start to finish to complete the puppets took six - four hour days ( 24 hrs total not counting teacher prep time or supply shopping with a ratio of one teacher per two children). A good reminder that puppetry is an art-form that requires many skills and hours to complete. The hard work was rewarded with wonderful puppets! Good going kids!

CALL (206) 524-3388 TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS!   PROUD 2008-2009 SPONSORS Bellevue Youth Theatre Sponsor

Norway Back by popular demand is our hilarious musical version of the classic Norwegian story in which the Three Billy Goats Gruff are in search of fresh green grass. Two of them convince their new friend the Water Troll to build them a bridge. Unfortunately, when you build a bridge you get a bridge troll. Sure enough a humorously grumpy Bridge Troll moves in and attempts to stop each of the Billy Goats from reaching the other side. Ages Pre/K - 5 Educational Emphasis: Sharing and Troll Lore.   Family Show Times: TICKETS: $7.00 child/senior, $9.00 adult   Magnuson Park Theatre: Theatre Building #47 7110 62nd Ave NE, Seattle WA 98115 April 19, 20 at 1:00pm and 3:00pm       Sunset Hill: Sunset Hill Community Club 3003 NW 66th Street, Seattle May 16 at 7:30 May 17, 18 at 1:00pm and 3:00pm       Bellevue Youth Theater: 16661 Northup Way Bellevue, WA 98008 May 24, 25 at 2:00pm and 4:00pm May 31, June 1 at 2:00pm and 4:00pm   School Show Times: TICKETS: Student Price: $6.00; Teachers: FREE   Magnuson Park Theatre: Theatre Building #47 7110 62nd Ave NE, Seattle WA 98115 Apr. 16, 17, 18 at 10:30am & 12:30pm       Bellevue Youth Theater: 16661 Northup Way Bellevue, WA 98008 May 21, 22, 23 at 10:30am and 12:30pm       Sunset Hill: Sunset Hill Community Club 3003 NW 66th Street, Seattle May 14 & 16 at 10:30am & 12:30pm

Let Thistle Theatre star at your Fundraiser!
Bring the Thistle Theatre production to your school, community center, auction or fundraiser at a discounted price. We will provide the production at a flat fee and all you have to do is sell tickets to your event! Combine with an auction, family fun night, spaghetti feed, ice cream social or simple bake sale.

We can give your child a Birthday he or she will not soon forget!
"Mrs. Periwinkle and Possum"
Mrs. Periwinkle takes the children on an adventure featuring Possum, King Froggy Wartingham III, and a Wishing Well. Soft, charming puppets and a craft activity (childen make a paper dragonfly puppet) create a memorable birthday party. Click here for more information.

Ages 3 and up

"Captain Crashland in Space"
Captain Crashland is a Hero for Hire. He and his alien puppet friend Griffle and the party children go on an interplanetary adventure to retrieve the Name Sphere that was stolen by the Reptile King. The Sphere holds the name of the new King or Queen of Korzul…a tiny planet.

Click here for more information.

Ages 3 and up

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