25th Annual Paper Theatre Festival | Exhibition

25th Annual Paper Theatre Festival

UC San Diego Library's paper theatre festival returns as a colorful exhibition on the 2nd (main) Floor of Geisel Library. The display is in The Nest and runs July 14 through September 27, 2026.

Paper theatre, also called tabletop or toy theatre, dates back to Victorian-era London. Families re-enacted plays in miniature using souvenir poster kits with scenery sheets, costumed paper dolls, and condensed scripts. The library hosts the oldest continually running paper theatre festival in the United States.

Works from Scott Paulson, Rachel Almodovar, Elizabeth Hines, Carin Wallace, Anastasia Hunter, Christina Continelli, and visiting artist Nancy So Miller are on display. For a pop-up performance, contact curator Scott Paulson at spaulson@ucsd.edu.

The exhibition is free and open to the public during building hours.