Open No 33 Part B March - Dream Puppets

O
P
Oz Puppetry Email Newsletter
March Part B
e
In this issue:
Canberra’s centenary and Puppetry in Canberra by Hilary Talbot
WarHorse Puppeteers’ workshop
Masterclasses and puppetry workshop opportunities.
Flying High
Kassius Kamel
About O.P.E.N.
N
Issue Nø 33
Part B
March, 2013

,
This week Canberra is celebrating its centenary
- one hundred years as the capital of Australia and the home of Parliament. Walter Burley Griffin from
Chicago was the winner of the International Federal Capital Design competition for a city plan. His
plan was to incorporate the landscape’s natural qualities into the design. The foundation stones were
laid at Capital Hill on 12th March, 1913.
The front cover shows giant puppets of Walter and Marion Burley Griffin from a photo provided by
Hilary Talbot (Canberran puppeteer). Hilary tells us the puppets were made in 1989 by Ron Smith
from the Mardis Gras workshop for the protest play, Keep Your Hands Off our Assets, in Castlecrag,
Sydney. The puppets were on display in the National Museum of Australia’s Landmarks exhibition in
2011.
Puppetry in Canberra
- a recent history by Hilary Talbot
Canberra celebrates its centenary this year, and puppetry takes its place amidst all the events, festivals
and activities that are occurring during the year: Canberra 100, (artistic director Robyn Archer), You Are
Here Festival, Enlighten Festival, and The Village Festival.
When I became interested in puppetry in the 80s and 90's, Canberra's dedicated puppetry company was
Skylark, founded as Skylark Puppet and Mask Company in 1984 by Shelley McDonald, Marie-Martine
Ferrari and Al Martinez. It then had a second life as Company Skylark, under the directorship of Peter J.
Wilson who added sophisticated adult theatre, such as the renowned Inside Dry Water, to its existing
repertoire for young audiences. Hopes of establishing training and a core company of puppeteers,
makers in the capital sadly collapsed when Skylark did, due to the fraudulent actions of its general
manager. People dispersed, some to work on the Sydney 2000 Olympics Ceremony, and then to
Melbourne, where Peter set up the post-graduate puppetry course at the VCA which gave such a boost
to puppetry in Australia in the 2000's
Some us stayed. Catherine Roach is now a director and puppetry director. Imogen Keen works widely as
a designer, maker and costume maker in many theatre productions. I also freelance as a maker and
occasionally as a designer (attributed as HT under the photos). We are all involved with some of the
puppetry productions this year that are mentioned below. Elizabeth Paterson specializes in art made with
paper and cardboard, but remains very interested in puppetry.

Splinters Theatre of Spectacle was also based in Canberra during the same period of time as
Skylark, producing innovative large-scale outdoor performances, and Snuff Puppets spun off from
them. This year Splinters are reforming to present Babylon in The Village Festival at Glebe Park. An
exhibition of posters, videos and other materials from then will be on show later in the year, and a web
archive is being set up.
Since then puppetry in Canberra has followed the trend seen elsewhere in Australia, away from
dedicated puppetry companies to using puppetry moments or scenes within a diversity of productions.
While this takes puppetry to new audiences, it can mean a loss of institutional memory about puppetry
and the skills it requires, and makes it trickier to find. I'm sure I don't know of all the puppetry
happenings and people involved in Canberra, and I apologize for any that I have missed in this broad
description.
The Street Theatre, presently being extended and upgraded (it will a include custom designed
rehearsal space), is often host to local and visiting puppet endeavours, under the pro-active artistic
direction of Caroline Stacey. This year The Street is presenting The Very Sad Fish Lady by local
director/maker Joy MacDonald (formerly a puppeteer with Marionette Theatre of Australia) told with
marionettes and Greek-style illuminated shadow puppets; Richard, Professor of Literature by Belgian
comedian and puppeteer Stephane Georis; and Room on the Broom by Tall Stories Theatre Company.
Also at The Street, serious theatre, a collaboration of barb barnett and Gillian Schwab, will present
Pea!, a retelling of The Princess and the Pea, in April. Previously serious have used puppetry in plays
such as Void Without Void and all-mother, a collaboration with Erth.
The Hobbit was a co-production - Company Skylark and Anketell Theatrical Productions.
The photo shows The Hobbit maker crew - (back) Bryony Anderson, Al Martinez, Priscilla Johnson, Mary
Sutherland, Shelley Kovar, Philip Millar, Hilary Talbot, Udo Foester; (front) Imogen Keen, Elizabeth Paterson

Jigsaw Theatre Company has often used puppetry in the shows they made for school-age
children. One of their most notable was their adaptation in collaboration with the National Gallery of
Australia of Shaun Tan's The Lost Thing in 2004, under the direction of Greg Lissaman. Matt
McCoy (now with Creature Technology) and Rachael Whitworth (Spare Parts) and Paul O'Keeffe
were the actor/puppeteers, assistant director Catherine Roach. This year Jigsaw will present
Michael Francis Willoughby in Elohgulp in September at the Canberra Theatre, with puppetry
direction from Catherine Roach.
Left: The Lost Thing in progress outside my garage (made by Imogen Keen and HT
Right: The ‘utopia puppets’ that appear at the end of The Lost Thing (made by Imogen, Catherine
Prosser and HT
The Canberra Theatre will also be presenting Wulamanay and the Seven Pamanui from the Tiwi
Islands, with puppetry direction by Sam Routledge, which looks exciting. Other visiting puppetry
shows there are Room on the Broom by Tall Stories Theatre Company, and Possum Magic.
Greg Lissaman, now independent from Jigsaw, and actress/musician Chrissie Shaw, often
collaborate and use puppetry in the shows they create. Gran's Bag, a one woman show written by
Greg is still running successfully in schools, libraries and theatres down the east coast.
Puppetry also featured in their 2012 production Rolling Home at the Canberra Theatre Centre with
Chrissie and Catherine Hagarty actor/puppeteers, John Shortis (songs), Catherine Roach puppetry
director, Hilary Talbot as designer/maker and Imogen Keen as costume designer.

Above: Baba Yaga from Gran’s Bag (HT)
Below L : Catherine Hagarty with the Rolling Home troll (Chrissie Shaw). (HT)
Below R: Greg Lissaman with the dragon in an egg from Rolling Home. (HT)

Canberra Youth Theatre ventures into puppetry also, and their The Moth Tree and TANK
directed by Pip Buining, both made use of a variety of puppets.
Left : The Dragon Puppet in The Moth Tree (HT)
Right: The rat from TANK (HT)
PuppetOOdle is a new company set up by Marianne Mettes with her brother Jonathan. Since doing Gary
Friedman's Puppetry for Film and TV workshop a few years ago, Marianne has been developing her skills
as a puppet maker, and has dived into making and performing her own puppet workshops and shows.
She's also a musician and singer. She is presently developing an independent web series, Baz 'n'Snags,
about ‘a bloke and his loveable sausage dog’, and preparing for another gig at the National Museum of
Australia. Their previous one, Marco Polo, for the museum's very successful Travelling the Silk Road
exhibition festival last year was very successful.
PuppetOOdle presenting
Marco Polo at the NMA, with
video coverage playing
above.

The national institutions and our annual flower extravaganza, Floriade are also places where you might
find puppetry in Canberra. The Museum of Australian Democracy has a collection of Big Head
politicians that sometimes get an airing, and Doc Evatt and Bob Menzies have had gigs at Floriade.
Above: Bob Menzies and Doc Evatt at Floridae Below: Puppet made by Children and HT at the Warehouse
Circus at Floridae.
At Questacon, the national science museum, The
Excited Particles put on school holiday puppet
shows, one of which still features Mutty the
Muttaburrasaurus made by Fabian Billerwell and
Marie-Martine Ferrari. And the Australian Federal
Police have for many years had Constable Kenny
Koala as a liaison ‘person’ for school and community
work. He is a far cry from Philip Millar’s Ken Koala!
Constable Kenny
Koala (old version
(HT) – he has
recently been
revamped to a new
image by Jarrod
Boutcher in
Brisbane).

There is also some film/animation puppetry in Canberra. One that I like the look of is Teagan the
Vegan, which features plasticine stop-motion puppets. It has reaped in many film festival animation
awards. You can catch a clip of it on YouTube
Check out :
Canberra100 http://www.canberra100.com.au/
You Are Here Festival http://youareherecanberra.com.au/
Enlighten Festival http://enlightencanberra.com.au/
The Village Festival http://www.thevillagefestival.com.au/
Canberra Calendar
March
Sticks, Stones, Broken Bones by Canadian puppeteer Mr Bunk - shadow puppetry @The
National Library, part of the Enlighten Festival
The Near and How by Cathy Petocz - miniature live performance for one @The Watch
House, part of the You Are Here festival.
Babylon by disparate Splinters alumni each night of The Village Festival @Glebe Park. Also
puppet booths in The Village.
April
Richard, Professor of Literature by Belgian comedian and puppeteer Stephane Georis @The
Street Theatre
Wulamanay and the Seven Pamanui from the Tiwi Islands, puppetry direction by Sam
Routledge @The Playhouse
Pea! by serious theatre - retelling of The Princess and the Pea with large-scale puppetry and
physical theatre @The Street Theatre
May
Possum Magic Final Farewell Tour live musical by Garry Ginivan Attractions @The Canberra
Theatre
July
Room on the Broom by Tall Stories Theatre Company (UK) @The Street Theatre
September
The Very Sad Fish Lady by Joy MacDonald - marionettes and Greek-style shadow puppets
@The Street Theatre
Massive Love of Risk - The Art of Splinters Theatre of Spectacle exhibition of video, posters,
sets & props from the company's heyday @Canberra Museum and Gallery. Through to early
December.
October
Michael Francis Willoughby in Elohgulp by Jigsaw Theatre
Company, director Catherine Roach @The Courtyard Studio
by Hilary Talbot

War Horse Puppeteers Workshop
6th - 7th March 2013 at Arts Centre Melbourne
Back row (left-right): Sue Giles, St John Cowcher, Sang Hyun Ahn, Leonie Van Eyk, Lana Schwarcz, Eliza-
Jane Gilchrist, Kay Yasugi, Felicity Jane Horsley, Andi Snelling, Emma Pryse, Tim Denton, John Shearman,
Bruce Paterson, Jennie Pfeiffer, Chloe Flockart, Mischa Long, Alice Osborne. (Keira Lyons and Drew
Livingston inside the puppet). Front Row: Steve Scott, Jeany Lee, Sue Blakey, Sarah Kreigler, Megan
Cameron, Annie Forbes, Laura Purcell, Paola Aguanta, Bryony Geeves, Katya Shevtsov, Simon Abrahams
Arts Centre Melbourne recently hosted a very special workshop for puppeteers, in
association with the National Theatre of Great Britain. Twenty-four professional
puppeteers from around Australia and one from Korea were invited to attend a
performance of War Horse, followed by a 2.5 hour professional development workshop
exploring the rehearsal and development process for the puppetry in the show.
The session was led by the Resident Puppetry Associate Alice Osborne, together with
members of the War Horse company. The session started with an artistic conversation
about the use of puppetry in the work, led by the Artistic Director of Polyglot Theatre Sue
Giles. After discussing the rehearsal process, the group moved on to trying various
exercises that were used in the rehearsal process. These exercises involved using
peripheral vision, heightening spatial awareness, working together in small groups and
focusing on breath. There was also an amazing demonstration of the horse puppet
'Joey', which included seeing the War Horse puppeteers work with and without the
puppet to illustrate the horse's movements and sounds. Overall, it was a wonderful
experience where we learned new skills, met new puppeteers and shared our joy of
For more information on Art Centre Melbourne's Artistic Development programs,
visit http://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/discover/artistic-development.aspx
War Horse is now coming to Sydney, opening on 16th March at the Sydney Lyric
Theatre.
http://warhorseonstage.com/tickets/australia
Photos by Pia Johnson, Sketch of Horse puppet by Kay Yasugi

More Professional Development and Workshop Opportunities:
Puppets in Prague gives you the
chance to enter into the magical the world of Czech stop motion and puppetry.
Working under the guidance of leading Czech artists, you learn the traditional
way of creating puppets - and you become an artisan yourself, learning the
secrets of designing, carving, performing and filming. Check out a video taken
during our workshop here
We have the following workshops coming up:
Puppets for Stop Motion (April, October)
Marionette Carving (June, July )
Puppetry Carving and Performing (August)
Specialty Marionette Carving (Acrobat, Skeleton) - (March)
Click here for application
Leah Gaffen and Mirek Trejtnar
www.puppetsinprague.eu
Tel 420 602 617 970

Just Desserts Kassius Kamel
A message from Kardinal Kassius.
I’m afraid I didn’t make it to the Vatican. And I was so
looking forward to becoming infallible. But, then again,
I’m not ‘catholic’ in the true sense of the word - (I intend to
vote for Tony Abbott) - nor am I holy enough, apparently,
(on account of my great impenetrable hump). Moreover,
it has been rumoured that ‘pedestrians’ and ‘all those with
pedigrees’ were ineligible, which may have disadvantaged
me somewhat, given both my distinguished lineage and
lengthy perambulations.
But I’m not bitter, nor compelled to complain. Besides,
I’ve always been allergic to incense - and as for smoke -
black or white - it ought to be prohibited as
environmentally unfriendly.
But forgive me my follies; I remain fallible, after all.
And may you all get your just desserts KK
! ! About O.P.E.N (Oz Puppetry Email Newsletter)
O.P.E.N. is a free and voluntarily produced newsletter and is open to all. You can contact
us on dreampuppets@netspace.net.au Past issues of O.P.E.N. can also be accessed on
our website: www.dreampuppets.com
Please send reports of any known or suspected puppet activity by the 25th of each month.
(Profiles of puppet characters or drawings/cartoons also welcome). Please keep photo
resolutions low. Preferably send written material in .doc form so that it can be edited or
rearranged on the page.
Publication will be during the first week of each month.
If you have urgent news: deadlines or notice of performances previously not
advertised, you can send it to us for inclusion in Op-date at any time.
LINKS to more information about Australian puppetry:
www.PUPPETRYNEWS.com ! ! ! ! ! !
africanpuppet.blogspot.com
www.unima.org.au ! ! ! ! ! ! www.pupperoos.com
www.dreampuppets.com
! ! !
Julia Davis, Richard Hart and Kay Yasugi March 2013