2026 TCAF: The Paper Escaper

★ Puppetry x visual narrative

★ Signature production of Australian puppetry company “Terrapin”

★ Paper as the stage: a pop-up book structure turns into theatre space

“Snip, snip,” the scissors are cutting along the paper. Soon, little hands and little faces emerge as a pop-up book of a family tree is finished! Flip through the book, what do we see? There are Daddy, Mommy, and Benny!

Benny, the boy who lives in a story book, plans to do something greater than staying in the book, and that is to escape from the book, regain freedom and be himself!

Nonetheless, Dr. White, the creator of this pop-up book, has no intention to let him do so. Always showing up from nowhere, Dr. White tries to catch Benny and returns him to the book, squeezing him back to the story. Darting on the workbench as he tries to escape, Benny meets a monster made of layers of paper. Together, they hide in the gaps, running across the world of paper that folds, tears and flips, to seek temporary safety. When a fire that goes out of control threatens to destroy the story, how will Benny and the monster work with each other to generate the power that can protect them and even rewrite their own fates?

The Paper Escaper is the second production the Australian puppetry company Terrapin produced especially for puppetry arts. Centering around visual language, there are no dialogues but movements and rhythms while pieces of paper are brought to life as theatre elements. Through the exquisite paper art techniques, including cutting, folding, carving, rolling, layering, and collage, paper is turned into the delicate stage scenes full of surprises. Moreover, the colorful design of the characters together with the rich music and sound effects lead the audience into an imaginary jungle of puppetry, following the brave and smart Benny to find our true selves and go on an exciting adventure to escape the book!