I pride myself on being able to handle most reviewing assignments, but I'm giving up on this one before I start.

The fact is that for three weeks various venues throughout the region have been staging events as part of a major puppet festival in what is hoped will be an annual event.

Let us hope that it comes off, because on the evidence of two glorious days around the Mac on Saturday and yesterday, there is a huge audience for the age-old art which manages to combine ancient forms with the latest curring edge technology.

Everything on offer was simply brilliant, with amazing breadth, from formal theatre shows varied by off-the-cuff " happenings" which saw delighted children dancing with giant versions of Punch and Judy (not forgettting the Baby).

There were fascinating combinations of shadow puppets with traditional wooden figures, a superb and obviously very ancient knockabout Portuguese version of a Punch-like character, Don Roberto, and a simply enchanting performance from Hungary with miniature figures performingn on a tiny stage.

The look on the young audience's faces as after the show the tiny ballerina danced in the palms of their hands alone was worth all the effort.

Not forgetting a wonderful post-modern rom-com in the shape of the dragon, gormless George and a hurdy-gurdy playing princess and wonderful shows from Horse and Bamboo and a traditional wooden circus show from Portugal.

Many thanks to the International Puppet Festival Consortium in the West Midlands, which comprises Midland Arts Centre, Puppetlink and Puppeteers UK, which put the festival together and a huge round of applause to genial director Clive Chandler, whose vision pushed the whole thing through. See you there next year.

Sid Langley