SINGAPORE: It's time to pull some strings again, as Out of the Box: Festival of Puppet Theatre returns for the third year running.

Organised by Teamwork Productions in collaboration with the Esplanade, the festival this year features highly-acclaimed puppet productions from around the world, including Sweden's Pygme Teatern, Singapore's Mascots and Puppets Specialists, Taiwan's Taiyuan Puppet Theatre Group and Ireland's Your Man's Puppet (picture).

But it's more than just marionettes on a string. The various groups make use of hand puppets, shadow puppets and Japanese bunraku-influenced puppetry to tell their stories.

And it's not just for kiddies either, said Teamwork Productions' director Shweta Asnani. "Despite being targeted at children, I am certain that everybody will be able to appreciate the magic of these skilful puppeteers," she said.

"Hopefully, these stories will inspire today's youth to pick up puppetry or to develop an interest in the performing arts to become the new artistes of tomorrow."

Out of the Box runs from May 10 to 16 at the Esplanade Theatre Studio. Tickets at S$19 (children below 12) and S$23 (adults) are available from Sistic and at the Esplanade box office.

You can call 6348 5555 for more details. - TODAY/ar