A lot more than mere puppetry

If you’re in London this weekend, catch the final curtain before it goes down on a magical world.

Fantasy in Action is a new touring exhibition from the Puppet Centre Trust tracing the history of this fascinating art. It includes the oldest puppet known to man, aged 22-28 000 years, found in a burial ground in Brno, The Czech Republic, and made of a mammoth’s tusk.

And puppet research tells us that Lady Penelope of Thunderbirds fame has a selection of heads to reflect her different moods.

The exhibition is at Battersea Arts Centre from midday to 9pm, including Sunday, and it closes on 30 October. That’s Monday to you.