Horncastle Horse Fair Puppeteers

The Horncastle Horse Fair puppeteers visited QEGS in early July along with Creative Producer Simon Hollingworth and QEGS alumnus Joe Richardson.  

Joe left QEGS in 2010 (then Joe Rijatkis) and studied drama at Guildhall School of Music and Drama before securing his first acting job in the National Theatre’s production of War Horse. He was a puppeteer for the goose. Since then, he has also enjoyed a run in Tina the Musical in the West End.  

Joe, Simon and the puppeteers went to a whole-school assembly and provided information about puppeteering and the Horncastle Horse Fair. The students were in complete awe of the horse and how life-like it became.  

Afterwards, Joe and the team met with a group of 40 students to answer questions about behind-the-scenes theatre, pursuing a career in the performing arts and the art of puppetry.   

It was a wonderful experience - Joe has come a long way since starring as Fagin in QEGS’ production of Oliver! in December 2009!