Zee and the City by Puppets with Guts
Zee and the City by Puppets with Guts
in residency at 101
July 2025
Puppets with Guts brought their giant puppet Zee to 101 for research and development, rehearsing in the large middle bay and outdoors around Greenham Business Park.
Zee and the City was a high-energy celebration of youth, culture and community, delivered as one thrilling street adventure. Created especially for Bradford 2025 by Puppets with Guts, this vibrant blend of music, storytelling and awe-inspiring puppetry wound its way through the city centre before culminating in City Park as part of BD:Festival 2025.
At the heart of the show was Zee — a fearless, eco-warrior teenage girl, and a spectacular four-metre puppet, with dreams bigger than the city itself. She loves buzzing bees, custom cars and bold adventures, and invited crowds of all ages to join her on a joyful journey through the streets. Towering above everyone, Zee brought the city to life with energy, laughter and community spirit, filling each moment with her uplifting presence and a powerful call to make space for nature in our urban world.
About the Artist
Puppets with Guts create living stories for big spaces. They design large-scale puppetry, participatory performance and story worlds where audiences don’t just watch — they take part. Rooted in outdoor arts, their work grew from building giant puppets and performances for festivals and cities into creating experiences shaped by agency, embodiment and shared participation. They design worlds rather than fixed narratives, allowing stories to unfold through movement, choice and connection.
