As London Film School celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2026, we’ve had the privilege of revisiting films from our archive that continue to resonate decades after they were first made. Among them is Strings, a short documentary filmed at Little Angel Theatre in 1974 by London Film School student Danny Wilder.
Recently released as part of our monthly archive film series and included in a specially curated Art on Art collection on the London Film School YouTube channel, Strings offers audiences a delightful glimpse into the world of puppetry at Little Angel Theatre more than fifty years ago. But it is more than an historical document. Watching it today reminds us of the enduring value of creative education, artistic craft, and the spaces that nurture both.
At London Film School, we often talk about learning through practice. Since 1956, generations of filmmakers have developed their craft by engaging directly with artists, communities, and cultural institutions. Strings is a wonderful example of this approach in action. Rather than creating a distant portrait of its subject, Danny Wilder’s film immerses itself in the daily life of Little Angel Theatre, capturing not only the mechanics of puppetry but also the imagination, care and artistry that bring the theatre’s handmade characters to life.
The film is, in many ways, a meeting point between two creative institutions with a shared commitment to craft. Little Angel Theatre has inspired generations of audiences through the skill and dedication of its puppeteers and makers. London Film School has spent seven decades supporting emerging storytellers as they develop their own artistic voices. Strings reveals what can happen when those worlds intersect.
What makes the film particularly remarkable is how contemporary it still feels. Through inventive framing and a keen eye for detail, Wilder invites viewers to see the marionettes not as objects but as performers with distinct personalities. The camera lingers on faces, gestures and moments of movement that transform wood, fabric and string into living characters. It is a testament both to the filmmaker’s observational skill and to the extraordinary artistry of the puppeteers working behind the scenes.
For today’s audiences, there is also something profoundly moving about seeing Little Angel Theatre in 1974. The film preserves moments that might otherwise have been lost to time: workshop activity, rehearsals, performances, and the atmosphere of a creative organisation devoted to making magic by hand. In an age of digital abundance, Strings reminds us of the power of analogue craft and the joy that comes from watching artists master their medium.
Strings celebrates puppetry as both an art form and a collaborative endeavour. It highlights the importance of institutions like Little Angel Theatre that provide opportunities for creativity to flourish. And it showcases the curiosity of a film student eager to learn from another artistic discipline.
For students at London Film School today, the film remains an inspiring reminder that meaningful storytelling often begins with careful observation. For visitors, artists and supporters of Little Angel Theatre, it offers a rare opportunity to step back in time and experience the theatre through the eyes of a young filmmaker working more than half a century ago.
We’re delighted to be able to share Strings with new audiences as part of our anniversary celebrations, and we hope it will spark memories for some while introducing others to the rich history of Little Angel Theatre for the very first time.
If you would like to see this charming portrait of the theatre and its handmade cast, we invite you to watch Strings on the London Film School YouTube channel as part of our Art on Art archive collection. More than fifty years after it was filmed, its sense of wonder remains entirely intact, proving that great creative work, whether on stage or on screen, can continue to inspire across generations.
Watch Strings on the London Film School YouTube channel and explore the wider archive series released throughout our 70th anniversary year.
