Flight of the Pupniks
- Writer
- Deviser
- Theatre
- Manipulate Arts & Vanishing Point: Visual Performance & Puppetry Fund 2025-2026
Photo Credit: Julie Howden, 2026
After the launch of Sputnik (in 1957) the first satellite into space, the starting pistol in the space race between the USA and the Soviet Union was fired. Little did stray dogs Belka and Strelka know their names would soon be written in the stars.
The pair’s successful mission of being the first animals to return from orbit alive paved the way for the first human space flight of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, in 1961. But this was not the end of the story…
Flight of The Pupniks is an inventive new idea by Jack Hunter about Belka and Strelka, the first higher living organisms to survive orbital space flight. This story of two dogs caught up in the space race and who lived to tell the tail, will be chock full of stars, space rockets and political espionage. Combining elements of puppetry, music and physicality, Flight of the Pupniks will be a thrilling sci-fi comedy drama for younger, and all, audiences.
Writer's Note
This new idea was explored during a development week, with a creative team in January 2026.
Creative Team: Jack Hunter, Shilpa T-Hyland, Diane Thornton, Suzanna Ferguson, Nik Paget-Tomlinson & Ella Mackay.
The aim of the development week was to explore how different theatrical conventions such as text, puppetry, movement and music can be used to tell the story.
A sharing of work was presented at the Future Works event, as part of Vanishing Point’s Winter Residency at the Citz Theatre in February 2026.
Photo Credit: Julie Howden, 2026
Photo Credit: Julie Howden, 2026
Photo Credit: Julie Howden, 2026
Photo Credit: Julie Howden, 2026
Photo Credit: Julie Howden, 2026
Photo Credit: Julie Howden, 2026
Photo Credit: Julie Howden, 2026
Photo Credit: Julie Howden, 2026
