Inanimate creatures “ruddy with character in wood, cloth and paper” tell convincing stories in zipping dialogue. “The festival would entertain both children and adults alike since there are puppets from around the world,” says Dadi Padamjee, artistic director and managing trustee of The Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust.

Out of the three participating countries, Spain is in the spotlight for their three-dimensional demonstration of puppets, a technique not used by Indian puppeteers. Routines, is an oddball comedy where the protagonist is always courting controversies. The talking point of Routine is the swagger that the main character speaks with, which is inspired by the old Punch and Judy shows, said Eugenio Navarro of La Puntual, the company which has organized the show.