An exhibition celebrating children’s TV show Button Moon will make its world debut in West Cumbria next month.
Broadcast from 1980 to 1988, the 91-episode show follows the lives of Mr Spoon and his family on Junk Planet.
It is probably most famous for people of a certain age for its theme tune, written and performed by Dr Who actor Peter Davison and his then-wife Sandra Dickinson.
Button Moon and Beyond: Inside the World of Playboard Puppets will open at Rosehill Theatre and is a world-first exhibition that brings together a collection of puppets, stories and creative work, never before seen on this scale.
Jen Garrick, CEO of Rosehill, said “This feels like the perfect time for us to bring Button Moon back to Rosehill, as so many of the young Cumbrians who enjoyed the stage show here are now parents to young children themselves.
“We’re excited to host an exhibition that celebrates such an iconic and enduring cultural moment, as well as diving into the creative world of puppetry with a whole new generation.”
Visitors will get to experience all the familiar characters from Button Moon, as well as discovering the life and work of Button Moon creator Ian Allen, alongside his creative partnership with master puppet maker, the late John Thirtle.
Through their company, Playboard Puppets, the pair helped shape the landscape of children’s television and visual storytelling, combining ingenuity, craft and a distinctive handmade aesthetic.
The exhibition also reveals the breadth of Playboard Puppets’ work, including one of the large-scale puppets from the NatWest Piggy Bank adverts
in 1982, the Robinsons Fruit adverts in 1991, and characters from The Spooks of Bottle Bay.
The official launch event takes place on Sunday July 19, featuring a special In Conversation With Ian and Mark Alexander Todd, a performer and puppeteer who continues to develop and share the legacy of Playboard Puppets as a trustee of the Button Moon Trust.
Ian said: “It’s a joyful celebration of imagination, and simple creativity. We hope the exhibition will help people of all ages, to enjoy the magic of creative thinking as well as meeting some old friends on Button Moon.”
As well as the exhibition, free and ticketed events and workshops will take place.
The exhibition will be open from July 20 until August 28.
It has been made possible thanks to The Button Moon Trust and the continued support of Sellafield and Arts Council England.
