‘Snaplings’ and ‘Snapdragons’ events – Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery

Children and their adult carers who attend the Castle’s Snaplings and Snapdragons sessions for pre-schoolers are about to make a new friend!

‘Snap’ the dragon has just moved into Norwich Castle in time for the start of the popular twice-monthly early years activity sessions which begin again on 14 September – they are sure to give little ones a warm (but not fiery!) welcome.

Snap has been created especially for Norwich Castle Museum’s Early Years Team as part of the £18m project Royal Palace Reborn funded by National Lottery players through The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Hand-crafted in London by professional puppet-maker Keith Frederick of PuppetSurgery.com, Snap comes with a six-hundred-year family tree. They are based on the famous Norwich Snapdragon, a sculpture featuring a wooden head and snapping jaws who processed through the streets of medieval Norwich. From the fourteenth century, Snap marched alongside the figures of Saint George and the maiden Margaret to celebrate St. George’s Day. In the sixteenth century they became an important part of the festivities which accompanied the inauguration of a new Mayor.

The velvety puppet is based on new illustrations of Snap by artist Fiona Gowen which will be used in interpretation for younger visitors inside Norwich Castle Keep when it reopens. Fiona drew on archival images of the older processional Snap to develop the look of the two-dimensional character who features the same red belly and green scaly wings.

When Keith was given the brief to turn Fiona’s drawings into a fully-functional three-dimensional puppet, he drew on years of experience in production for theatre and international film projects. Working out of his London studio, some of Keith’s best-known work for children includes puppets for Fireman Sam Live and the TwirlyWoos Live Tour.

The aim was to create a dragon that would appeal to very young children without frightening them. Early Years Officer Emma Clarke led on the commissioning process, working with a group of teachers and educational practitioners. The new Snap’s prominent eyelashes, as well as the tufts on their ears, are some of the key dragon features that Keith was asked to add for extra friendliness!

‘Snaplings’ and ‘Snapdragons’ event details

Snaplings is for children aged 0-2 and their adults, while Snapdragons is for children aged 2-4 and their adults. Sessions are held on Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10:15-11 for Snaplings and 12:30-13:30 for Snapdragons: Dates for autumn 2024 are:

Saturday, 14 and Tuesday 17 September
Saturday, 12 and Tuesday 15 October
Tuesday, 5 November and Saturday 9 November
Saturday, 14 and Tuesday 17 December

Child £5, one free adult per child, includes admission to the museum. Pre-booking essential. For more details and to book a place visit: www.norwichcastle.norfolk.gov.uk

© Norfolk Museums Service