Support Thistle Theatre!

The Magic of Imagination

Can a tree really grow out of someone’s head? Can Jack defeat the Giant? Can the goats outwit the troll? Thistle Theatre makes the picture book come alive through the world of puppets!

Curling up with a book of fairy tales is a favorite activity of children and parents. To be transported across the world is exciting! Thistle Theatre has enlivened these tales for Pacific Northwest audiences for 32 years.

Thistle Theatre presents stories from many cultures, in community centers, theatres, schools, libraries, and other venues.

How can you be part of Thistle Theatre’s Family? 

Nonprofits like Thistle Theatre are still struggling financially since the pandemic and every donation keeps the magic alive. We are actively pursuing sponsorships, grants and opportunities to give back and Give Big. You CAN make a difference.

• $10-Bag of googly eyes or craft stuffing for a puppet
• $25-Dowels for rod fish puppets
• $50-Sponsors one puppet rehearsal
• $100-Craft fur for a bear puppet
• $500-Sponsors performance of a legacy show
• $6,000-Sponsors entire development of classroom show & activities

Thistle Theatre wants to share the stories that you would like represented. Full sponsorship can bring to life a story of your culture as a legacy gift for your children and grandchildren.

Come to a show! We have several performances for the public this summer with new dates being added: 

• Sat 6/22 Sammamish KC Public Library 11:30 “Winnie the Pooh”
• Sat 6/22 Snoqualmie KC Public Library 3:30 “Winnie the Pooh”
• Sun 6/23 Duvall KC Public Library 1:00 “Brother Coyote and Sister Fox”
• Sun 7/7 Seattle Japanese Garden Tanabata Festival tba "New Work”
• Sat 7/13 Ballard Seafood Fest tba “Winnie the Pooh”
• Tue 7/23 Des Moines KC Public Library 2:00 “The Bremen Town Musicians”
• Thu 8/8 Kingsgate KC Public Library 10:30 “The Bremen Town Musicians”
• Wed 8/14-17 Puppet Palooza Regional Puppet Festival TBA

Interested in booking a show? Email us at bookings@thistletheatre.org

Join Us! Become part of Thistle Theatre by joining our board as we develop strategic business plans for both the short and long term. Please email gavin@thistletheatre.org for more information.

Why I Support Thistle Theatre

Our founder Jean Enticknap invited me to join the first cast of Thistle Theatre in 1992. Our first production was the Russian tale Baba Yaga. Thistle Theatre was my artistic life for several years. I helped originate many favorite legacy shows, including Tales of Peter Rabbit.

Later, I supported Thistle Theatre by attending performances with my young daughters and creating Girl Scout events to bring in young audiences. Occasionally, I would step into a short run of performances. It was great fun to be Rudy the Squirrel in Little Red Riding Hood!

In 2013, I was asked by Jean to reprise roles for Tales of Peter Rabbit for a 2-week run of performances at The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, GA. It was so satisfying to see how respected the work of Thistle Theatre had become.

My favorite memories from performing are the little voices of wonder and amazement in the audience during a show.

As an educator, youth volunteer and parent of three, I value arts education. In a Thistle show, there is magic, music, a moral, and the means to see another's view of the world, not to mention humor and surprises!

When Jean passed in 2021, I wanted to support the continuation and success of Thistle Theatre. In October 2023, I sponsored a performance of "Brother Coyote and Sister Fox" in Kingston, WA. I joined the Board in November 2023.

My goals are to assist in expanding the educational reach of Thistle Theatre, to make connections with new communities, to expand our show offerings to reflect the diverse communities we serve and have that reflected in our collaborations through artists, board, content and new stories to be shared. As 2024 continues to unfold, I am excited to pursue these goals under the artistic leadership of Gavin Cummins.

In Fall 2024, we will be partnering with Keta Legacy Foundation to create a new classroom show, about salmon migration, life cycle, and environment. We are very excited to be collaborating on this project and to have the chance to offer more puppet shows to our community.

Through Thistle Theater, I have felt the value and joy of creating and performing. I saw first-hand the importance of arts education for my own daughters, as well as children in my community and beyond. It supports compassion for others and springboards creativity. Lastly, I believe in the legacy of Thistle Theatre and its mission to enrich and engage audiences by performing professional puppet theatre with social, cultural and educational significance. 

You can become part of Thistle Theatre's enduring legacy by donating during GiveBIG!

Heidi Svensson, Board Member & Former Puppeteer