Earlier this year, a viral tweet from everyone’s iconic red/fluffy best friend Elmo, asked “how is everybody doing” – and received thousands of responses. It appears that there’s something about puppets that lets people let loose – and that we seem to trust. This trust is possibly because puppets have long been baked-in to our childhoods, learning processes, and educations: Cookie Monster has helpfully been singing “C is for Cookie” since 1971. Generations of kids have learned how to read, make friends, share, count, and play – from puppets. Now those generations are grown-ups – and puppets might still have something to teach them.

1. A Unique Blend of Silly and Serious

On the surface, The Sex Lives of Puppets is a very silly piece of theatre, made by the OG of puppeteers Blind Summit – a theatre company who worked on War Horse and made the iconic Voldemort puppet for the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games. In The Sex Lives of Puppets – as you may be able to guess from the title – puppets talk about sex. It sounds simple – but there’s a deeper layer. The show is based on real conversations, as part of a collaboration with the London School of Hygiene’s National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. This means each scene is inspired by real people’s conversations and interviews about sex.

2. Breaking Taboos with Puppets

The puppets, and the scientific nature of the survey, allow the show to ask questions that would make audiences cringe if they were presented by humans, and to explore scenarios and unpack peccadilloes without embarrassment. It is sweet, it is funny, and there is a lot of heart in this – essentially – grown-up, X-rated, Sesame Street. It turns out that puppets can have conversations and get frank in ways that would shock and discomfit audiences if they were watching actors on stage; somehow, puppets can get away with so much more.

3. Educational and Enlightening

This makes the show more interrogative, more sexually open – and more educational. Think: not so much the raunch of “Avenue Q”, but rather a version of “Bert and Ernie are gently invited to consider and discuss the concept of pegging”. The approach of using puppets to delve into adult themes creates a safe space for audiences to reflect on and discuss sexual attitudes and lifestyles in a way that feels less confrontational and more engaging.

4. The Power of Puppetry in Contemporary Culture

Puppets are having a total renaissance right now: aside from Elmo dominating Twitter, London North Eastern Railway and East Midlands Railway have both introduced puppets as their brand characters. Field Day are teasing this year’s festival with a line-up of googly-eyed sock puppets, and Marmite put out a strangely suggestive ad featuring puppets spreading the sticky paste on their toast to techno. Puppets are more than just nostalgic remnants of childhood; they are becoming powerful tools for communication and education in modern media.

5. A Must-See at Edinburgh Fringe

The Sex Lives of Puppets is a unique and innovative addition to the Edinburgh Fringe lineup. It promises to deliver not only entertainment but also thought-provoking content that challenges societal norms and encourages open conversations about sex. For those looking for a theatre experience that is both humorous and insightful, this show is a must-see.

The Sex Lives of Puppets will run from 31st July – 25th August at the Edinburgh Fringe. More information and booking info can be found here.