Puppetry
O.P.E.N. Oz Puppetry Email Newsletter - Dream Puppets
O.P.E.N. Oz Puppetry Email Newsletter - Dream Puppets
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Oz<br />
Email<br />
<strong>Puppetry</strong><br />
Newsletter<br />
Welcome<br />
to O.P.E.N.<br />
This is the first monthly open email newsletter<br />
about whatʼs happening in Australian <strong>Puppetry</strong><br />
and Visual Theatre<br />
In this Issue:<br />
Whatʼs On this Month: Luʼarn; Dispatch; Giacomo and Rosa; Michaela Bartonova workshops<br />
Whatʼs Coming Up: Puppet Palace at Adelaide Fringe, Gary Friedman projects, Spare Parts 2010<br />
News of puppeteers, companies and projects; Alʼs space<br />
Festivals: Copenhagen; Estonia<br />
Opportunities: A residency in Japan<br />
Update on ʻWorking with Childrenʼ checks<br />
Kassius Kamel (not forgotten)<br />
<strong>Puppetry</strong> tidbits and links<br />
Editorsʼ note
Whatʼs On this month:<br />
Luʼarn<br />
by Jacob Boehme<br />
Gasworks, 21 Graham Street Albert<br />
Park, Melbourne Feb 3 - 6 at 8.30<br />
A new show by Jacob Boehme, an<br />
adaptation of a traditional Boonwurrung<br />
story, as told by local Elder Aunty<br />
Carolyn Briggs. Dance and puppetry<br />
directed by Jacob Boehme and puppet<br />
design by Jenny Ellis. The show is<br />
performed as part of Nexus - a curated<br />
season of dance for Midsumma<br />
Festival. Photo of Jacob Boehme and<br />
Jade Dewi Tyas Tunggal taken by<br />
Bindi Cole.<br />
_________________________________<br />
Dispatch<br />
by Barking Spider Visual Theatre<br />
45 Downstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne<br />
2-7 February at 8 p.m. and matinees 6 and 7 February at 4 p.m.<br />
"From nothingness we come, by nothingness we are sustained,<br />
to nothingness we return"<br />
Following season at Brisbane Festival and ASSITEJ Festival in<br />
Adelaide, Barking Spider Visual Theatre presents the Melbourne<br />
premiere season of their award winning production 'Dispatch'. This<br />
contemporary and ethereal puppet theatre work, written and directed<br />
by Penelope Bartlau, is performed by Bartlau and Justine Warner.<br />
$28/23 Bookings: (03) 9662 9966 or<br />
www.fortyfivedownstairs.com.au <br />
________________________________<br />
Giacomo and Rosa<br />
by Paola Aquanta and Bronwen Kamasz<br />
28 February, afternoon. La Dolce Italia, Lygon Street, Melbourne<br />
Giacomo and Rosa are looking for a place to stay; just off the boat, they are hoping to make their<br />
new home here in Melbourne. With rod marionettes.
Whatʼs on this Month: WORKSHOPS<br />
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Whatʼs Coming Up:<br />
PUPPET PALACE<br />
Garden of Unearthly Delights<br />
Rundle Park, Adelaide<br />
Puppets for adults and kids!<br />
Adelaide Fringe Festival<br />
14 Feb — 13 March 2010<br />
www.puppetpalace.com.au artbeatkp@aol.com<br />
T: 08 8352 4618 M: 0418 839 264<br />
<strong>Puppetry</strong> continues to build in numbers and profile in the Adelaide Fringe with over<br />
fifteen shows taking to the stage in 2010. The majority of these will be performing in<br />
'The Garden' with most featured as part of the program in the Puppet Palace venue.<br />
Puppet Palace (now in its fourth year at the Fringe) is the brainchild of Adelaide<br />
puppeteers Lachlan Haig and Keith Preston (Australia's two foremost Professors of<br />
Punch) and is presented with the support of the Garden of Unearthly Delights.<br />
Budapest Marionettes<br />
The Program:<br />
Presented by: Bence Sarkadi (Hungary)<br />
www.myspace.com/bencesarkadi<br />
World travelled European-style marionette show that has travelled the world featuring a<br />
gravity defying trapeze artist, a self-playing cello and a break dancing Turkish Sultan.<br />
Experience Bence Sarkadi’s beautifully crafted marionettes and journey to the world of your<br />
imagination.<br />
The Fish that wanted to Fly<br />
Presented by Company Gongoma<br />
www.gongoma.com.au<br />
Victoria’s Company Gongoma returns with their new enchanting world combining colourful<br />
puppets with live African music, with a tale of a Fish who more than anything wants to fly like a<br />
bird<br />
Broom Broom<br />
Presented by: Flying Heart Productions (WA)<br />
www.flyingheart.com.au<br />
Flying Heart Productions fuses the timeless art of clowning with object theatre to create<br />
this dynamic and delightful show about the mystery of friendship and the befriending of<br />
mystery.<br />
.
Seaside Punch & Judy<br />
Preston’s Historic Punch & Judy & Professor Haig’s Punch & Judy<br />
www.prestonspunch.folkaustralia.com.au<br />
Punch and Judy shows presented in the authentic traditional ‘seaside-style’ by Australia’s<br />
leading Punch professors. See the irrepressible Mr Punch, Judy, the Policeman, Crocodile<br />
and all the gang getting up to their usual mischief in the same way they’ve done for<br />
centuries.<br />
The King’s New Clothes<br />
Presented by Billabong Theater ( Australia/Germany)<br />
www.billabong-theater.com<br />
A witty, humorous and enthralling adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s famous<br />
children’s story. A King is fooled and his people remain blindly obedient until the voice of a<br />
child exposes the truth. With puppetry, mask, music and interactivity.<br />
Beat Munky<br />
by KREECHA Enterprizes in conjunction with TRANZMOG FX<br />
www.myspace.com/zaenkreecha<br />
Presenting the Amazing DJ SnogGHOUL-The World's First Puppet DJ! Direct from his soldout<br />
World Rave Tour, the electro-funk doof maestro mashes up a bizarre musical treat.<br />
Snap's Kakadu Club<br />
Lindi Jane, Australia’s leading female ventriloquist, presents her fun-filled show featuring<br />
Snap Crocodilus, the cheeky crocodile from Kakadu and his friends. A feast of Comedy,<br />
Music, <strong>Puppetry</strong>, Ventriloquism, Singing and audience participation<br />
The Amazing Drumming Monkeys Go Green<br />
Presented by: The Amazing Drumming Monkeys<br />
www.amazingdrummingmonkeys.com<br />
Fringe favourites, The Amazing Drumming Monkeys return with their new show “Go Green”.<br />
Aimed at young children, the show features The Monkeys drumming, dancing, doing tricks and<br />
sending beautiful messages.<br />
The Magic Waterhole<br />
An Aesop’s Fable style traditional African story of animals teaching humans how to live<br />
together in harmony. A joyous celebration of African culture and talent. A sensational<br />
show with puppets, comedy, dance, costumes and drumming. An explosion of<br />
excitement African-style! ‘<br />
Tyrannosaurus Sex - The Puppet Rock Opera!<br />
Pooka Puppet Co. in association with Puppetvision.<br />
www.puppetvision.com/tsex.htm<br />
Bob is an average penis with self-esteem issues. His hysterical, musical journey of<br />
discovery finds him standing up to the dark side only to realise there’s light at the end of<br />
the tunnel!
Gothic Punch & Judy<br />
Performed by: Professor Haig<br />
www.puppetpalace.com.au/haig<br />
A cult-classic Adults-Only ‘Gothic’ Punch and Judy from Australia’s foremost<br />
punchman, Professor Haig. The show as it would have been seen in the 1800's with<br />
all the gory bits, sex, death, violence, a hanging, and even the devil himself.<br />
Pigs in Wigs<br />
Presented by Pooka Puppet Company<br />
The true story of the three little pigs. A side-splitting parody of the classic story but<br />
this time...from the eyes of the Wolf. What really happened when three rotund<br />
porkers moved into the neighbourhood and started building real estate ? A visual<br />
treat, delightful soundtrack..<br />
Whatʼs Coming Up:<br />
Gary Friedman Productions<br />
Gary writies: We just completed our International <strong>Puppetry</strong> for TV and<br />
Web Course which ran at the Wesley Institute in Sydney from 4 to 14<br />
January. A short report and the three short films from the course are<br />
posted on: www.puppetrynews.com <br />
In February and March we are engaged in an interesting experimental programme, it's a creative arts partnership,<br />
running together with Sydney University and three schools in North Sydney.<br />
During these two months, we shall be running a series of workshops in puppetry and Bain Gym in which we will<br />
engage the students in developing a creative expression combining movement, visual and performing arts. The<br />
students will holistically, affectively, and cognitively deepen their engagement with literature and personal<br />
storytelling. This is a meaningful and unique extension of the research into process drama work begun between the<br />
partner schools and the University of Sydney in 2009.<br />
This project will assist students to take on the ‘disposition’ of the creative artist and create a significant puppetry<br />
performance work. It will give students an authentic design and construction task and a focussed context for the<br />
acquisition of dramatic devices and skills. The presence of a professional creative artist will catalyse this process<br />
for students and teachers alike. In addition to the creative processes curriculum, we would like to bring attention<br />
to puppetry as an specific artform, one that has an important place in the history of performance both in popular<br />
and high cultural forms. The puppetry focus will therefore also provide a content unit which creates classroom<br />
opportunities to examine puppetry in different cultural settings and offers rich territory for a classroom<br />
investigation of the language of metaphor and symbolism.
From April to June, we are departing for an International<br />
Workshop Tour of schools, universities and institutions in<br />
Europe for three months. During this time we have all sorts<br />
of workshops and creative consulting work booked throughout<br />
Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Portugal, France, Sweden, Norway and<br />
others. We will, once again, be developing our World of Paper<br />
workshop skills with participants all over Europe. It's an<br />
exciting challenge and this time we'll be travelling with a<br />
brand new member of staff, our one-year old puppeteer, Idan.<br />
Book now for our 2010 World Tour<br />
info@puppetrynews.com<br />
Workshop films: www.youtube.com/user/<br />
puppetrynews<br />
____________________________________________________________________________<br />
2010 at Spare Parts<br />
Media Release: January, 2009<br />
2010 SEASON:<br />
The Velveteen Rabbit (January 2010)<br />
The Night Zoo (on tour March) Spellbound (April)<br />
The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek (July) Blueback (on tour August)<br />
Birthday (September/October) The Night Zoo (December/January 2010/11)<br />
Media Contact:<br />
John Michael Swinbank 0414 743 418<br />
Puppet powerhouse announces 2010 program as 30 th year looms<br />
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre has announced its 2010 season focussing on classics from its repertoire, Spellbound (2003)<br />
and The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek (1998) for the Term 1 & 2 School Holidays as well as a new work, Birthday for<br />
Term 3 School Holidays in the lead up to the beginning of the company’s 30th Year celebrations in 2011.<br />
2010 has already begun with the continuation of its inaugural summer season of The Velveteen Rabbit which runs until<br />
January 30 at its home theatre in Fremantle. In March, the company will tour the smash hit of 2009, The Night Zoo to<br />
venues in and around Perth including Midland, Joondalup and Mandurah as well as Margaret River. These mini-seasons<br />
are part of an ongoing program to provide further and regular opportunities for metropolitan and regional families to<br />
enjoy the work of this home-grown Australian puppetry powerhouse. Later, The Night Zoo will also follow The Velveteen<br />
Rabbit’s example and move into the newly created and highly successful festive summer season beginning in<br />
December.<br />
For the Term 1 School Holidays (April 2 to 17), the company revives Spellbound a magical adventure story about a<br />
clumsy clown, Petrushka, a beautiful ballerina, a handsome Moor, Benjamin and the wicked magician, Zeno. Inspired by<br />
Igor Stravinsky’s famous ballet, Spellbound was written by Humphrey Bower. Directed by Philip Mitchell, it features some<br />
of the company’s finest marionette puppets, which seemingly come alive through exquisite lighting design and the<br />
distinctive use of ‘black theatre’ and Bunraku (traditional Japanese) puppetry techniques.<br />
For the Term 2 School Holidays (July 3 to 17), one of the most endearing classics, The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek will<br />
be revived by director, Noriko Nishimoto with original cast members Michael Barlow and Paul Johnson joined by<br />
acclaimed musician, Mel Robinson. It features some of the most beautiful of hand-carved puppets as a “who’s who” cast<br />
of Australian animals, including a naughty echidna, a recalcitrant platypus, a couple of ditzy kangaroos and an<br />
assortment of birds, in particular a mad emu, who all try to help, somewhat unsuccessfully, a bewildered bunyip in his<br />
search for his identity.<br />
In August, the company will tour Tim Winton’s Blueback to the Goldfields, upper wheatbelt and lower Gascoyne regions<br />
of Western Australia. Meanwhile back home, the company will prepare a new work, Birthday about those special<br />
moments in everyone’s lives for the Term 3 School Holidays, (September 25 to October 9). Directed by Philip Mitchell<br />
this celebratory original script will prefigure the following year’s 30 th anniversary celebrations culminating on the official<br />
30 th birthday in February, 2012.<br />
Artistic Director of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Philip Mitchell said that it was a busy year which would celebrate the<br />
great legacy of the company’s past as well as look forward to an exciting future. “Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is a<br />
remarkable family with a great lineage. It is made up of individuals who have all brought something to the company, from<br />
the puppeteers, creative artists and staff to the backstage and front of house crews - and most importantly, the<br />
audiences, the children and families of Perth and beyond who have supported and continue to support this remarkable<br />
and magical environment and the puppets who really do live in it,” he said. “It is our wish that our artistic program for<br />
2010 exceeds your expectations and that the magic of puppetry will help the young stay young and the old grow young<br />
forever.”<br />
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is based in Fremantle, Western Australia and is Australia’s leading puppetry company,<br />
creating entertaining and inspirational theatre for young people and their families. In 2011, the company will begin its<br />
celebrations for 30 years of creating quality new Australian puppetry works that excite the way we view our world through<br />
image, illusion and entertainment. For more information, please visit www.sppt.asn.au or 9335 5044
Media Release: January, 2010<br />
SPARE PARTS PUPPET THEATRE<br />
The Night Zoo on tour<br />
On tour: Midland / Joondalup / Margaret River / Mandurah<br />
Media Contact:<br />
John Michael Swinbank 0414 743 418<br />
The Night Zoo on tour<br />
During March, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre will take its<br />
smash hit show of 2009, The Night Zoo on the road as it<br />
continues to develop a regular circuit outside of its<br />
Fremantle home, providing opportunities for families to<br />
enjoy the work of this remarkable company.<br />
Written and directed by Michael Barlow, The Night Zoo is a magical story about a little girl who dreams of befriending<br />
animals. However, Jamie can only dream because she lives in the middle of the city and her parents don't think there's<br />
room for a pet in their apartment.<br />
However, one night, as Jamie falls asleep, something magical happens when one by one the animals of the city zoo<br />
come out to find her. Aided by a lovable orangutang, Jamie joins them for a night of dancing in the park. As the sun<br />
comes up and the dream is fading fast, there is one more surprise in store.<br />
A fabulous cast of animal characters including Elephant, Giraffe, Penguin, Orangutan, Cranes, Thorny Devils, and the<br />
wonderful Meerkats is brought to life by performers, Jacob Lehrer and Katya Shevtsov through puppetry, dance,<br />
animation, masks – and a light sprinkling of manure!<br />
Designer Iona McAuley has created a beautifully expressive cast of puppet characters and lighting designer, Romi<br />
Poonoosamy deftly transports the action from the city at midnight to the dreamscape of the zoo. Remarkably, composer,<br />
Lee Buddle completed his 21st original score for the company with this production. Projection of ‘cut-out style’ animation,<br />
created by Michael Barlow, adds to the complexity of the staging.<br />
Barlow said that The Night Zoo was created to express the joy that can come from making friends with animals. “Now<br />
more than ever, we need to remember that we’re part of the natural world. Developing friendships with and<br />
understanding of animals is one of the most meaningful and enjoyable aspects of this connection,” he said. “And the<br />
benefits of interacting with animals through looking after a pet are immeasurable as children discover in themselves<br />
feelings of compassion, care, kinship and the pleasure of being alive.”<br />
Spare Parts invites you to join Jamie for a night on which her dreams come true and to go wild with the wildlife of The<br />
Night Zoo. Keep in touch with the dream at www.sppt.asn.au Early bookings to secure tickets are always advised as the<br />
company’s shows frequently sell out. 24/7 booking facilities are available online at www.sppt.asn.au or by phone on<br />
9335 5044.<br />
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is Australia’s leading puppetry company creating entertaining and inspirational theatre for<br />
young people and their families. In 2011, the company will begin its celebrations for 30 years of creating quality new<br />
Australian puppetry works that excite the way we view our world through image, illusion and entertainment.<br />
Excellent image, photo and interview opportunities are available.<br />
Please contact John Michael Swinbank 0414 743 418 jm@johnmichael.com.au<br />
LISTINGS:<br />
The Night Zoo – on the road – Midland, Joondalup, Mandurah and Margaret River - Australia’s powerhouse children’s<br />
theatre company, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre presents The Night Zoo, a stunning new work that explores the<br />
remarkable relationships children have with animals - Suits anyone who's a bit of an animal, but perfect for 4-10. All<br />
bookings (except Margaret River) to Spare Parts Puppet Theatre www.sppt.asn.au or 9335 504.<br />
Midland Junction Arts Centre 1pm and 6pm March 13, & 10am and 1pm March 15, 10am & 1pm March 16<br />
Prendiville Catholic College, Ocean Reef 10am and 1pm March 18, & 1pm and 6pm March 19, & 1pm March 20<br />
Mandurah Baptist College 1pm and 6pm March 25 and 26<br />
Margaret River Cultural Centre 6pm March 29 & 10am & 1pm March 30 www.artsmargaretriver.com or 9758 7316
News of Puppeteers, Companies, Forthcoming Projects 2010<br />
Al Martinez is running prop-making classes at various times throughout the year at his studios in Kensington,<br />
Melbourne . He’s also started a membership for Al Martinez Studios that entitles members to a<br />
discount to a studio hire fee, consultation fee and course fee. He will be setting up more short courses in<br />
metalwork and wood working . More details in next newsletter. Contact Al Martinez<br />
<br />
Dream Puppets (Richard Hart and Julia Davis) will be travelling to Korea to perform ‘Dreamer in the Deep’ at the<br />
Samducdong and the Mumurism <strong>Puppetry</strong> and Mime Festivals in late April/Early May.<br />
Rachael Guy (Melbourne) will be performing her new version of ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff ‘in Thailand as part of<br />
an English Language program in March.<br />
Jacob Boehme will be be heading to India in March to undertake an Asialink residency for 3 months<br />
working with Ishara Puppet Theatre on a range of projects. These include a Unesco funded initiative<br />
to work with street kids in Delhi creating puppetry shows about HIV awareness, linking up with one of<br />
India's last traditional shadow puppeteers. He will be taking Kathakali dance classes, part time. On<br />
his return he will begin a residency with Gasworks to develop his own Indigenous Dance and Visual Theatre<br />
Company 'Idja'...and will be working in strong partnership with Gasworks during 2010-11.<br />
Beth McMahan and Michael Bevitt (Melbourne) taught a 2<br />
week puppetry summer school in Canberra during January<br />
and have busy year ahead of them.<br />
Late last year Kay Yasugi (Sydney) ran a Puppet workshop for<br />
the Teachers' Literacy Conference (Sydney, NSW)<br />
The workshop, "Creating a Dynamic Literacy Classroom with<br />
<strong>Puppetry</strong>" was part of the "Future Directions in Literacy<br />
Conference" hosted by Sydney University's Division of<br />
Professional Learning in the Faculty of Education and Social<br />
Work.<br />
Kay’s company, Pupperoos ,is a Sydney-based puppet<br />
business that is passionate about combining puppetry with<br />
education. For more information, please visit the Pupperoos<br />
website at http://www.pupperoos.com<br />
(Pupperoos’ Chee Chee at Sydney University)<br />
Terrapin(Tasmania), Spare Parts (W.A.), Polyglot (Victoria) and Arena Children’s Theatre recently<br />
performed at the Pittsburgh Children’s Festival in Philadelphia.<br />
(Editors’ note: Let us know your news! )
F E S T I V A L S<br />
Tallinn Treff Festival (Estonia) (5 to 10 June 2010) is looking for professional culture journalists from all over<br />
the world, who work for a culture magazine, newspaper etc, to cover the festivities in the framework of TALLINN<br />
TREFF FESTIVAL 2010. The festival is dedicated to street performances. The festival will host the journalists and<br />
cover all the expenses on the ground of Tallinn (accommodation, meals, free attendance at festival events, cultural<br />
program).<br />
We ask you kindly to forward this e-mail to journalists, cultural associations, magazines, newspapers etc who may<br />
be concerned by this message.<br />
We would be very thankful if you could provide us any names before 2nd of February 2010 on the following e-mail<br />
address: hannaleana@nuku.ee<br />
Copenhagen Puppet Festival 2011<br />
The dates for next years festival is now in place, so make a note in your calendar for the following<br />
dates: March 24th– March 27th 2011. Our focus will again be adult puppetry.<br />
------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
Puppet Junior 2010<br />
But before then we are launching a brand new initiative: Puppet Junior which<br />
is aimed at children families and is free. This mini festival will among other<br />
things consist of an outdoor market day which will tour Vanløse, Vesterbro,<br />
Nordvest og Amager all in Copenhagen. The festival runs from May 31st –<br />
June 6th 2010.<br />
The monkey Mono will perform at Puppet Junior 2010.<br />
--------------------------------------Brisbane Festival---<br />
ONE MONTH TO GO! Applications close Tuesday 2<br />
March 2010<br />
Head to www.brisbanefestival.com.au to download the<br />
application info pack and apply
Opportunities:<br />
Residency in Japan<br />
Dear All<br />
I would like to draw your attention to the open call for the artist in residence program 2010 at the Australia House at<br />
Echigo-Tsumari.<br />
Australia House - Artist-in-Residence Program 2010<br />
Entries due 28 February 2010<br />
Submissions are called for the "Australia House - Artist-in-Residence Program" (organised by Matsudai-Nobutai),<br />
which will be held in Urada in Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan between 1 June and 7 August<br />
2010.<br />
Australia House was established as part of the 2009 Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial, providing a base to showcase<br />
Australian artworks in Japan. It also serves as a venue for exchange between Australians and the people<br />
of the Echigo-Tsumari region.<br />
More information about the program guidelines and the application form is obtainable from the website of the<br />
Australia House.<br />
To receive various information on Australian art & culture in Japan, in particular updated information on the Artist<br />
-in-Residency and other activities to take place at the Australia House, please subscribe our e-newsletters.<br />
Australian Embassy Tokyo issues 2 art & culturee-newsletters, "What's On" and "Japanese Art Scene Monitor".<br />
"What's On" is a monthly newsletter on Australian cultural events in Japan."Japanese Art Scene Monitor" is a bimonthly<br />
newsletter on the Japanese contemporary art scene, which is intended to provide Australians with<br />
information that will allow them to interact with and participate in the Japanese art scene including opportunities<br />
for Australian artists. Both newsletters are delivered free by email to all interested persons. Registration is<br />
easy from our website.<br />
Public Diplomacy Section<br />
Australian Embassy Tokyo<br />
I would be most grateful if you could forward this information to anyone who may be interested.<br />
Kindest regards,<br />
Hitomi Toku<br />
Cultural Officer, Australian Embassy Tokyo<br />
2-1-14 Mita, Minato-ku, TOKYO 108-8361<br />
TEL +81 (0)3-5232-4024 FAX +81(0)3-5232-4114<br />
E-mail hitomi.toku@dfat.gov.au<br />
http://www.arts.australia.or.jp http://www.jasm.australia.or.jp <br />
(Source: Nancy Black, Secretary of UNIMA Australia)<br />
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
Update on NSW Working with Children in Schools Checks<br />
There has been some confusion about the NSW Department of Education and Training’s requirements regarding<br />
police checks for performers working in schools. However, the guidelines have been simplified for 2010. Under<br />
the new arrangements, the first time a presented seeks to work in a school in NSW, the first school approached<br />
by the presenter/performer would forward the completed ‘Prohibited Employment Declaration’, ‘Consent to<br />
Employment Screening’ form and ‘100 points of identity’ documents to the Employment Screening Unit of the<br />
Department. The presenter is required i) to comply with the employment screening process the first time they visit a<br />
school in any year and ii) to provide subsequent schools visited with specific personal details of all members of the<br />
group (full name, previous names/aliases, dates of birth), in advance, so that each school can verify the presenters’<br />
Working with Children Check status with the Employment Screening Unit. Once approved to work in schools, the<br />
approval is valid for 12 months.<br />
NSW Department of Education and Training. alan.suthers@det.nsw.edu.au (02) 9255 8967
J U S T D E S S E R T S<br />
by Kassius Kamel,<br />
ex - Outback<br />
Correspondent,<br />
now<br />
Refugee from<br />
Australia<br />
Yes, it’s me! I’m still here - but not for long , for I must flee the<br />
impending “Great Australian Camel Cull”. I now consider myself to be A<br />
Refugee From Australia.<br />
However, thanks to the generosity of Saudi Arabia , I and my<br />
extended family will be able to take asylum there to escape this accursed<br />
camelocide. There, instead of being proscribed as pests and pariahs<br />
of the pastures, we will be preserved as the Pampered Pets of Princes.<br />
Our just desserts, indeed!<br />
But do stay connected via my facebook page - a preview below - and add<br />
yourselves to my extensive list of friends:<br />
______________________________________________________________________________________<br />
Kassius Kamel is now on facebook<br />
Here are some of Kassius’ friends:<br />
Kassius Kamel<br />
dromedary<br />
Kassandra Kamel -<br />
distant<br />
relative<br />
Caruso Camel -<br />
relative distance<br />
advised!<br />
curious...<br />
...and curiouser<br />
?<br />
Kassius is a fan of: Opera , Listerine, , Pilates., Cosmetic Dentistry and a variety of Dates......<br />
______________________________________________________________________________________<br />
Tidbits and Twitters<br />
Did you know that the most viewed youtube posting in January was ‘Achmed the Dead<br />
Terrorist’ - A PUPPET!<br />
Check out Jeff Dunham’s controversial creation on http://www.youtube.com/watch?<br />
v=1uwOL4rB-go<br />
Spike Jonze, Director of Where the Wild Things Are, Adaptation and Being John Malkovich is releasing a new<br />
movie short entitled “I’m Here” WITH PUPPETS<br />
Hilary Talbot (Canberra) has been noting Australian puppetry news as she happens to come across it, on<br />
Twitter at @Oz<strong>Puppetry</strong> Check it out.<br />
LINKS for more information about Australian puppetry<br />
www.puppetsinmelbourne.com.au<br />
www.PUPPETRYNEWS.com http://africanpuppet.blogspot.com/<br />
www.unima.org.au
Editors’ Note<br />
The response to our proposal to assemble this monthly newsletter has been very encouraging. Puppeteers<br />
(and puppets!) have popped up all over Australia and have sent their support, many of whom we’d never<br />
heard. We hope we can meet their expectations.<br />
This is a free and voluntarily produced newsletter and is open to all. We would welcome sponsorship. If you<br />
are interested in being mentioned as a sponsor in the newsletter, please contact us on<br />
dreampuppets@netspace.net.au<br />
Please send reports of any known or suspected puppet activity by the 25th of each month. (Profiles of puppet<br />
characters or drawings/cartoons also welcome). Please keep photo resolutions low. Preferably send written<br />
material in .doc form so that it can be edited or rearranged on the page.<br />
Publication will be during the first week of each month.<br />
Best wishes<br />
Julia Davis and Richard Hart<br />
Dream Puppets<br />
Concept and creation of photos - Richard Hart<br />
Art - Julia Davis<br />
Type to enter text<br />
Stop Press:<br />
The Grimstones will be performing at the Victorian Arts<br />
Centre on 13 & 14 February<br />
in the ANZ Banquet Room . Saturday 13th and Sunday<br />
14th at 10.30 a.m. and 2..00 p.m. Sign Singing workshop<br />
at 12.00 p.m. To book call 1300 182 183 or visit<br />
www.theartscentre.com.au<br />
www.asphyxia.com.au