Natasha Pearson Reflects on the International UNIMA Passport Programme (Italy)

In 2026, UNIMA Australia member Natasha Pearson travelled to Italy to participate in the UNIMA Passport Programme at the internationally acclaimed Festival Internazionale dei Burattini e delle Figure Arrivano dal Mare! in Ravenna.

Natasha is a Perth-based puppeteer, director and theatre-maker whose work spans puppetry, performance-making, theatre for young audiences, and interdisciplinary arts practice. Passionate about accessibility, experimentation, and community engagement, she is part of a new generation of Australian artists exploring innovative approaches to visual theatre and puppetry.

The UNIMA Passport Programme offers emerging and early-career puppeteers a unique opportunity to attend international festivals, connect with artists and presenters from around the world, and experience diverse puppetry traditions and contemporary practices first-hand. Participants are welcomed into the international UNIMA community and gain valuable professional development opportunities that can help shape future artistic pathways.

For Australian puppeteers considering international engagement, the Passport Programme is well worth exploring. Opportunities are announced through participating festivals and the international UNIMA network, and we encourage UNIMA Australia members to keep an eye out for future calls for applications.

Learn more:

Below, Natasha shares her reflections on her experience attending Arrivano dal Mare! through the UNIMA Passport Programme.

Participating in the Passport Programme at Arrivano dal Mare! was an incredible
introduction to the international puppetry community!


The programme brought together puppeteers and theatre-makers from around the
world, alongside UNIMA representatives, festival directors, and artists. It was amazing
to meet so many people who share a passion for puppetry and to realise just how
connected and supportive the international puppetry community is. I made friendships
and professional connections that I know will continue throughout the rest of my travels and hopefully well into the future.


One of the most valuable aspects of the programme was the opportunity to spend time
with UNIMA members and delegates from many different countries. We heard
presentations about puppetry practice around the world, discussed topics such as
sustainability in the arts, and learned about opportunities for international
collaboration. For anyone wondering what the experience is actually like, prepare
yourself for a lot of puppets! Every day was packed from around 9am until very late at
night. We were constantly moving between performances, talks, workshops,
discussions, and social events. The Italians eat dinner very late and love to gather, talk,
celebrate, and drink wine after the shows. I learned that very quickly! The days were
long, but they were filled with conversation, laughter, and opportunities to connect with
artists from all over the world.


The festival team looked after us incredibly well and transported us around Ravenna as
a group. We spent our days travelling from venue to venue, watching more than twenty
performances from artists across the globe. The range of work was extraordinary. We
saw traditional forms alongside highly contemporary approaches, large-scale
productions alongside intimate works, and performances that pushed my
understanding of what puppetry can be. Something that struck me was how many
festival directors, programmers, and UNIMA representatives were attending. Many were actively searching for work to present at their own festivals and venues. Being able to observe those conversations and make connections with people who are shaping the international puppetry sector was an invaluable learning opportunity. I would wholeheartedly recommend the Passport Programme to any Australian puppeteer who has the opportunity to attend. If you can make the flights work financially, it is absolutely worth it.