"Their intricate and exciting work
with puppets excites me, and inspires
my own artistic practice...their work
​has a sense of magic and joy. "

Who we are

Handbendi is a professional puppetry and theatre production company based in Hvammstangi, Northwest Iceland.
In the UK we were known as Old Saw. In autumn 2015 we moved operations from London to Hvammstangi, Northwest Iceland. Living and working in a new country and a new language requires a new name. We are Handbendi.
Greta Clough is the artistic director and creative producer of Handbendi. Greta is the former Associate Artist of Little Angel Theatre in London and has over a decades experience creating and touring original theatre productions around the world.

National and International Touring Productions

Handbendi tours both nationally and internationally with small - mid scale puppetry and theatre productions for all ages. This year we are touring Iceland's favourite folktale, Búkolla, to schools and libraries in Iceland. Thanks to the List fyrir Alla government scheme we will be bringing this wonderful show and workshop to some of the most sparsely populated regions or our beautiful country.  Our popular production will also be touring to Poland and around Iceland this year, and bestselling show for babies Kúrudagur is always out on tour somewhere. 

Need a puppet, training, or advice about using puppetry in your production? 
In addition to touring our own productions, Handbendi is available to take on puppetry commissions, consulting and direction work, and can provide both performance and making workshops for all ages and abilities - professional, amateur, student, and children.  We are very happy to be able to offer puppetry intensives at our base in Hvammstangi for beginners interested in learning more about puppetry, and experienced professionals keen to expand their skills and explore approaches to puppetry practice and storytelling in a focused environment.

This year we also  begin our international residency programme inviting puppetry and theatre artists from around the globe to work in  peace and focused isolation at our studios in Hvammstangi. Great for early development work or for taking a breath from the day to day and giving your artistic self some space and time to flourish.

Our partners and sponsors

A big thank you to all our partners and sponsors for investing in our work. We couldn't do it without you.