Giants and tigers and bears – why does puppetry cast such a powerful spell?

Welcome to the WhatsOnStage Podcast!

This week, chief critic Sarah Crompton has ventured into Giant Country (otherwise known as Stratford-upon-Avon) for the opening night of the RSC’s stage version of The BFG, sparking a series of thoughts about why puppets have such a profound effect on audiences. This comes mere weeks after the critics raved about the stage production of Paddington.

Speaking of the much-loved Bear, the Paddington musical was the runaway smash for the audience-driven WhatsOnStage Awards shortlist – which saw theatregoers across the nation pick their favourite shows and performers. Crompton and editor-in-chief Alex Wood comb through the nominated shows to see what it says about the state of UK theatre in 2025.

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