It’s day one and I go with the Brussels Puppet Family to the Beat Initiative’s new premises close to the famous Shankill Road. The Beat, whose aim is to create non-sectarian and inclusive public celebrations in Belfast, has recently moved from East Belfast to these new headquarters. Called the Belfast Carnival Arts Centre, the large space it now calls home is already filled with giant puppets and creatures; ranging from lions to swans, a chequered beetle and a praying mantis.

In one corner sits the head of Gulliver, which when assembled, will form the 5-metre high Gulliver character, who will be the centre piece of the Lantern Parade on Saturday. With Gulliver as the theme of this year’s nocturnal parade, Lilliputians and other creatures will have to be built.

With no time to waste, the Brussels Puppet Family, made up of Philippe, Isabelle and Yan, get straight to work on their puppets for the parade and the three workshops for kids they will hold on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. The three beaver away at their creations, only taking time out to sip some hot coffee and share tips and jokes, and comment on the progress made. I find the atmosphere is at the same time jovial and hard working and I am eager to see their finished puppets.

Isabelle, for example, begins by working on a mini-puppet the kids will also make. Using three recycled spools of tape, she makes a ball, which she then covers with brown sticky tape, and then adds foam to make the nose, ears and eyes. Next up, she makes big steel-framed glasses and uses hemp to give her puppet eyebrows and hair. Finally, using cloth she makes the body and clothes of the puppet and a hand-glove to create a link between the puppeteer’s two hands, which in turn will allow her to breathe life and movement into her puppet when he is on a stage.

The first puppet-creation workshop for kids on Tuesday would follow the above scenario and prove to be a resounding success with the kids, their parents and the Brussels and Belfast Puppet Family. I find it impossible to stand aside and watch as a journalist might. I decide I just simply have to join in all the fun and end up helping the children glue the cloth to their puppets.

I will especially remember Joshua. A shy kid at first, he ends up creating one of the most simple and beautiful puppets in that group; Mr. Creepers. And when the children are asked if they want to bring their new puppets home with them tonight or pick them up on Saturday before the parade, loud screams of “YES! NOW!” come out of the little ones.

It was truly a night to remember!!!