• FAR from hanging by a thread, the success of the Suspense Puppet Festival was never in doubt. The event is the largest of its kind for 25 years.
On Sunday at the Little Angel Theatre, the audience were asked to suspend disbelief as they watched Poseidon, Athene and Zeus amuse themselves on Mount Olympus by playing with the mortals down below.
A play by Adrian Mitchell, Perseus and the Gorgon’s Head was infused with the poet’s wit.
Opening the festival was Faulty Optic’s surreal Fish Clay Perspex (see this week's review on the web). There’s still time to catch some of the shows. See suspensefestival.com
• ANOTHER festival is currently taking place at the Cock Tavern, Kilburn. The London New Play Festival runs until November 14 and includes rehearsed readings of new plays . For more info see cocktaverntheatre.com
• ALSO on Sunday, veteran campaigner and politician Tony Benn will be hosting an event at the Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N, to mark Remembrance Sunday. An array of writers will be “exploring the power of words and music against the human cost of war”. All profits will go to the Mark Wright Project, which helps ex-servicemen and women recovering from the physical and mental wounds of war. Entry costs £18 (£13 concs, veterans free). For tickets call 0844 871 7677.
• MEANWHILE in Acton, Sturdy Beggars Theatre is presenting two rarely-performed pieces written by David Mamet – Reunion and Dark Pony. The revivals, which are being directed by Jack O’Connor and Mark Shaer, will be performed on November 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 at the Acton Community Theatre, 33-35 Acton High Street, W3.