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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 />

!"!!#$%%&'()*+%%,%%!"!!#$##-)*+<br />

.'-&/*0%%1)22'+#%%3)$4%%5)64'#2'%%7'-$/8/9:%%;-/&%%


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

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