When puppetry meets opera

What happens when you invite an opera singer to perform with puppets, or a puppeteer to devise an opera? Can puppetry enhance opera? And can opera successfully animate puppets?

The myriad possibilities and challenges of combining the two art forms will be explored in detail over the next few weeks, and especially at a pioneering ‘Puppetry in Opera’ event in November organised by the Puppet Centre and Central School of Speech and Drama, in association with Trinity Laban and the Barbican.

In the run up to a two day ‘Puppetry in Opera’ event, eight puppeteers, nine opera singers and two puppet makers will be given the opportunity to work at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with emerging opera directors and puppetry directors. The results will be performed at the Barbican Pit on the 9 November.

Ahead of that evening performance is a day jam-packed with presentations and discussions from a range of speakers. The following day further workshops, presentations and master classes will take place at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Participants will be introduced to the possibilities of working with opera and puppetry across the two different but equally stylised art forms. By beginning a dialogue between directors, performers, composers and other creative artists, established theatre and opera makers are being encouraged to step outside their usual ways of working and explore other possibilities.

“New ways of creating theatre – using collaborations and fusions of art forms such as puppetry and opera – can influence an inspiring approach by artists for the future” says Linda Lewis from the Puppet Centre.

We’re planning a host of content on a ‘Puppetry in opera’ theme in the run up to the November event. Keep an eye on Animations Online for blogs, features, interviews and reviews. Find out more and reverse your place via www.puppetcentre.org.uk/develop/puppetry-opera

Credits

Puppetry in Opera is funded by Grants for the Arts and the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust. The project is delivered by the Puppet Centre in partnership with Central School of Speech and Drama, and in association with Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and the Barbican Arts Centre.

Quotes

“New ways of creating theatre – using collaborations and fusions of art forms such as puppetry and opera – can influence an inspiring approach by artists for the future”

Additional Info

We’re planning a host of content on a ‘Puppetry in opera’ theme in the run up to the November event. Keep an eye on Animations Online for blogs, features, interviews and reviews.

Links

www.puppetcentre.org.uk/develop/puppetry-opera