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HORSE + BAMBOO
 At Rossendale venue the Boo this season
kicked off with Indefinite Articles presenting their shadow play The Magic
Lamp, the story of a blessed and beautiful boy who, through serendipity alone,
ends up with a lamp-dwelling genie at his disposal. Coming up next: 20 Stories
High perform Babul and the Blue Bear, a fresh, anarchic and unique piece of
theatre, bringing the worlds of hip-hop, mask, puppetry and street art together
(3 October, 7.30pm, ages 13+); and Thingumajig Theatre show A November Day (see
separate listing; 29 November, 7.30pm, ages 10+). In other news, Horse + Bamboo
have just published a beautiful 80-page full colour book to celebrate their
30th year and most ambitious touring show to date - Veil. See www.horseandbamboo.org or call 01706 242945.
DNA
Dynamic New Animation (DNA) is currently
touring Singapore and Kuala Lumpur with Atishoo!, an innovative visual
performance for early years audiences with original music by Indonesian
composer Haviel Perdana from Yorkshire-based company Indigo Moon. DNA is also
launching a program of creative education training for early years settings
called Imaginary Leaps, with a website live at www.imaginaryleaps.com
Alongside touring Ball Pond Bobby, Chicken Licken and Dr Nose Travels Through
Time, new for 2009 is Fairy Tales based on the published stories by ex-Python
Terry Jones. Full details can be found at www.dynamicnewanimation.co.uk and www.thurtinkle.com
 LOST AND FOUND THEATRE
Mandy Travis (Lost & Found Theatre)
just been awarded funding by the Arts Council for a two week R&D period
this autumn to continue developing her next show, Orpheus and the Underworld,
and to share the skills of puppetry and object theatre with young theatre
practitioners and artists in the Winchester area. Rene Baker (ex Norwich Puppet
Theatre and Institut del Teatro, Barcelona) is leading the R&D period and
directing the resulting show. This will open at the Tower Arts Centre,
Winchester on 25 April 2009, followed by a week of shows at the Little Angel
Theatre, London and a national tour for which the company are now taking
bookings.
See www.lostandfoundtheatre.co.uk or email
administrator Claire Griffin on emailclairegriffin@googlemail.com or call 07859 766181
SCOTTISH MASK AND PUPPET CENTRE
The autumn/winter SMPC programme this year
sees a return of Folding Theatre Puppet Company's prince-and-princess folktale
Singing Ringing Tree (27 September), as well as an outing of Clive Andrews'
tale of lights, ships, dreams and the power of the imagination, The Lighthouse
Keeper (18 October), and a visit from company La Cie du Beau Sauvage to give
performances (in French and English) of their show Ben's Canoe, set in the
Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia in 1699. SMPC are also hosting a new
touring exhibition that covers the life and work of Ken Barnard, puppeteer,
poet, painter and creator of hand carved marionettes (8 & 10-12 November).
See www.scottishmaskandpuppetcentre.co.uk or email info@scottishmaskandpuppetcentre.co.uk
THINGUMAJIG THEATRE
Thingumajig Theatre will be touring their
new puppet play A November Day 12 October - 1 December. To mark the 90th
anniversary of the ending of the First World War, Thingumajig Theatre in association
with Imperial War Museum North, tells the story of one survivor's memories of
the conflict and his unexpected encounter with a stray dog who knew no
boundaries. With evocative puppet characters and live music, A November Day
presents a timeless fable on war and the miracle of friendship when all else
seems lost. Touring to Glasgow, Manchester, London, Bath, Brighton and more.
See www.thingumajig.info
OBJECTS DART
After a superb sold-out run of Salt at Out
the Box in Cape Town, Objects Dart are currently touring to Cape Schools
inspiring children and teachers! Back in the UK from late September to develop
and create the new show Tom Tit Tot, which is a Suffolk folk tale, Objects Dart
will then be touring the UK over the Christmas season. There are also plans
afoot to apply for funding for the continuation of the project We Tell Our
Stories with the Things to Hand, which includes workshops, performances and the
development of a long-term collaboration between the UK and South Africa with
Objects Dart and artist Mary-Ann Orr. See www.objectsdart.info or call 020 8653
2766.
THE WRIGHT STUFF
 The Wright Stuff continued their
successful relationship with Billy Elliot the Musical this summer by remaking
once again the cast of seventeen puppets for the hit show. Now after three and
a half years in the West End and breaking box office records in Australia, its
time for Broadway. Steve Wright was in New York weeks before opening night
delivering puppetry workshops to the cast. 'We've supplied a mixture of Bunraku
figures, glove puppets and a giant Maggie Thatcher,' he said, 'and it was an
honour and a massive buzz to be out there working again with Director Stephen
Daldry. Puppets continue to get me into places other artforms just can't
reach!'.
See www.getyourheadroundit.co.uk & www.thewrightstuff.co.uk or email mail@thewrightstuff.co.uk or call 01484 866944.
BLIND SUMMIT THEATRE
Blind Summit's incredibly successful
collaboration with director Anthony Minghella, Madama Butterfly, is revived at
the Met Opera on 24 October; and in another collaboration the company will
later be joining forces with maverick theatre-maker Mick Gordon and neurologist
Paul Brooks for On Emotion, a show using the tools of theatre, an artform which
creates and manipulates feelings, to explore the complicated and crucial arena
of human emotion - at Soho Theatre, 5 November - 20 December. Lastly there is a
chance again to see Blind Summit's puppet cabaret Low Life at BAC 6-7 November
before it tours to China in November as part of the British Council Showcase.
See www.blindsummit.com or email info@blindsummit.com or call 020 7272 9020.
HAND TO MOUTH
Hand to Mouth have just returned from a highly
successful and enjoyable tour performing in the northernmost part of Jutland
(Denmark). The company did eight performances as part of the Go Global world
music festival, which was designed to bring interesting sounds and sights to
the sparse population. Acts came from USA, Senegal, Mali, Morroco, Russia,
Italy, Chile and Mexico. Hand to Mouth's musical/visual show Piggery
Jokery has very little language and always works well for international gigs,
and Su's hurdy-gurdy playing in the context of a music festival was very much
appreciated. The company are now back in the UK and touring shows to venues in
Ludlow, Lewisham, West Lulworth and other places throughout October and
November. For more details see their new website www.handtomouth.co.uk or their myspace www.myspace.com/handtomouththeatre or call
02380 555392
 UNICORN THEATRE’S
NEW SEASON
The venue’s autumn/winter season starts with the UK Premiere of Perô is an exquisite production from the Dutch company Speeltheater, which, in the best European theatre tradition, combines quirky puppetry, actors and live operatic music to tell this story of love and friendship. The season culminates in an exciting new production by Oily Cart.
How Long Is A Piece Of String? runs from 6 Dec 2008 – 4 Jan 2009 and is an interactive production for the very young, combining stunning visuals and original, live music to explore the wonders of string.
Following a trail of string into the performance area, the audience is led into a series of Macramé chambers – some cosy, some awe-inspiring – where ropes and pulleys take actors and objects in and out of sight as you journey through the mysterious maze to find the secret at the heart of it.
For full listings and fee-free online bookings, see www.unicorntheatre.com
Training, Courses, Workshops
NORWICH PUPPET CENTRE
 NPC are holding a Performance & Shadow Workshop
(minimum age 16) on 4 October, 10.30am - 4pm, costing £30. This workshop offers
the opportunity to develop animation of shadow through physical theatre
principles and to explore the role of the puppeteer. The workshop is led by a
professional director/physical theatre performer. The participants will learn
imaginative and challenging ways of playing with movement, shadow and character
and will receive feedback on their work during the day. The course is open to
everyone interested in puppetry and physical theatre, as well as professionals
and students in acting, dance and puppet theatre.
See www.puppettheatre.co.uk or email info@puppettheatre.co.uk
NO STRINGS ATTACHED AT THE NATIONAL
The National Theatre Platform event No
Strings Attached was a practical demonstration by leading puppeteers, chaired
by Penny Francis, which took place on 26 September at the Olivier Theatre.
Participants included Phelim McDermott (Improbable), David Cauchi (Avenue Q),
and Nick Barnes, Finn Caldwell and Ben Thompson from Blind Summit.
CITY LIT’S INTRODUCTION TO PUPPETRY
An Introduction to Puppetry course will be
held at The City Lit, (Keeley Street, London WC2B 4BA) on Sundays 9–30
November 2008, 10.30-16.30. For the second year running, tutor Zannie Fraser
will be teaching this general introductory course to puppetry. Learn to make
puppets and bring them to life by analysing and recreating puppet movements.
This course will cover a range of manipulation and construction techniques,
looking at glove, rod, marionettes and shadow puppet. This course will run
again in February 09 and there will be a follow-on course in June 09. For
details on enrolment call: 020 7831 7831 or see www.citylit.ac.uk
FORKBEARD FANTASY
In 2008-9 Forkbeard Fantasy will be
running a series of one, two and three-day courses based at their studios in
the heart of rural Devon. The courses will provide access to inspiring
techniques, expertise and the vast array of facilities available at Forkbeard's
creative base. This year's courses include: Film Interaction for Stage, Screen
& Gallery; The Arts of Animating; Animated Props & Basic Automata;
Creative Sound for Stage, Screen & Gallery; Digital Editing Using Final Cut
Pro HD; Lighting For Film And Video; Advanced Compositing (Using Shake). For
dates and details of all FF Short Courses and next year's Summer Schools go to www.forkbeardfantasy.co.uk or email: ff@forkbeardfantasy.co.uk or call 0117 930 9933.
SCOTTISH MASK AND PUPPET CENTRE
As usual, the centre are running a number
of puppet-making workshops, including two seasonal ones this year: Halloween
(25 October) and Christmas (13 December). See www.scottishmaskandpuppetcentre.co.uk or email info@scottishmaskandpuppetcentre.co.uk
CRAFTY KIDS
Workshop leaders take note: Crafty Kids
make wonderfully original puppet kits for kids! All are designed by BMPTG
member and TV puppet-maker and puppeteer Sally Preisig. Each kit comes in a
recyclable cardboard spotted tub, complete with full ingredients, instructions,
brush, glue and multiple colours of paint. The puppets have special tags to
thread them all together. All the kits are aimed at the school-aged child (4+).
Kits available in bulk to trade buyers too as well as specially made half kits
for teachers, party planners & workshop leaders - contact Sally for
details; or you if you just want one, look online for stockists www.craftykids.co.uk or email info@craftykids.co.uk
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