No Strings Attached 2026 at Goodman Arts Centre: four puppet shows from four countries, which pass to buy, and the free Shadow Puppet Slam

By Jonathan Lee · Researched guide · Details checked 28 October 2026

Dates: 13–15 Nov 2026 · ticketed shows through the day; free Shadow Puppet Slam 7pm to 8.30pm on 13 and 14 Nov

Paper Monkey Theatre’s puppetry festival works like a mini festival day: four 45-minute shows from four countries, in the same building as The Artground’s indoor play space. The 10th edition runs from 13 to 15 November 2026, and the real decision is how many shows your kids can sit through.

Why go?

You can see four puppetry traditions in one visit: Indonesian community puppetry, Thai shadow play, a Korean solo show built around a gayageum (a Korean zither), and live digital cut-out animation from Iran.

The shows rely on visuals more than dialogue, and all are performed in English, so they work for young kids and mixed-language families.

Every ticket also includes entry to The Artground’s indoor play space, so there’s something to do between shows.

What to do

01 · The four shows, and who each suits

From Fear to Hope (Animawayang Community, Indonesia) is a forest-and-flood fable about animals and people. Jack the Salesman (Pineapple Studio, Thailand) retells the caps-seller-and-monkeys folktale as shadow play. Beside You (Odongnamoo Happening, Korea) is a quieter solo piece about hurt and healing, told with a gayageum, puppets and movement. Ashiq Wants to Tell You a Story (Hojjat Zeinali, Iran) animates cut-out characters live at a desk and is pitched at ages 4 to 8.

02 · Which ticket to buy

A single show is S$20. A session of two shows is S$35, and a full day of four shows is S$60, which works out at S$15 a show. Booking fees are extra (S$1 per ticket up to S$20). For under-6s, one session of two shows is usually plenty; older kids and puppetry fans get the most from the day pass. Tickets can’t be refunded or exchanged.

03 · The free extras: workshops and the Shadow Puppet Slam

Play, Make, Move! runs free workshops, storytelling and mini puppetry sessions, capped at 40 people per session (adults included) and first come, first served. It ends with a showcase of traditional potehi glove puppetry by graduates of Paper Monkey’s masterclass. On 13 and 14 November, the Shadow Puppet Slam fills the GAC Amphitheatre with contemporary shadow puppetry from 7pm to 8.30pm, and entry is free.

Before you go

• Pack socks for every adult and child. They’re mandatory in The Artground’s play space, which your ticket includes.
• Children under 3, including babes in arms, aren’t admitted to the ticketed shows. The free Shadow Puppet Slam outdoors is the easier option with a toddler (our suggestion; check with the organiser).
• Arrive before the start time. Latecomers wait for a suitable break, and phones, photos and food aren’t allowed inside.
• Goodman Arts Centre runs other family events: see our Crack the Case: Wonderland guide.

The venue and the art form

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