I submitted a piece to Art My Word, https://www.artmyword.com inspired by the book, The Lady and the Unicorn, which at its core studies the six known tapestries re-discovered in the 19th century and thought to have been commissioned in the 15th/16th century. Each tapestry celebrates a cognitive sense; Touch, Taste, Smell, Hearing, Sight and À Mon Seul Désir (My Only Desire).
I made a puppet called Allegory & Ambivalence, that embraces a further cognitive sense of 'Understanding' to pay homage to the birdlife where we live. Our island home is unique and a ‘stage’ for the now, less than 150 species of birds that make this place their home. There are only 65 birds in this work; the sum of birds we have identified here.
Ambivalence exists, however there is an understanding of what will happen if we continue to remove nesting and food sources at the current rate. Happily the puppet is now settled in her new home.
Materials used: Papier-mâché, cardboard, fabric, paint, wire, corflute, paper clay, beads
I made a puppet called Allegory & Ambivalence, that embraces a further cognitive sense of 'Understanding' to pay homage to the birdlife where we live. Our island home is unique and a ‘stage’ for the now, less than 150 species of birds that make this place their home. There are only 65 birds in this work; the sum of birds we have identified here.
Ambivalence exists, however there is an understanding of what will happen if we continue to remove nesting and food sources at the current rate. Happily the puppet is now settled in her new home.
Materials used: Papier-mâché, cardboard, fabric, paint, wire, corflute, paper clay, beads
Brown paper puppetry: Brown paper is magic to work with. In this case, soften it up by scrunching it for awhile until it moves with ease.
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Applied theatre employed in the NARRATIVES of HOPE ENSEMBLE.
WHO ARE WE? WE ARE is a production that combines stories within stories, within stories; Indigenous stories, people with disabilities, disease, stories of homelessness, refugees, migrants, courage, dreams and hopes. There are stories of mentors who have been confronted and humbled by their experience, stories of how we consolidate as a community and ultimately, as a society.
Narratives of Hope Ensemble emerged from the community owned program, Narratives of Hope, which has used the platform of storytelling to build new communities of understanding, to change perceptions about ‘the other’ and to create a more hopeful and peaceful future for all, including wider community. This has allowed participants to self-advocate and advocate on behalf of their communities through digital media, art or public speaking.
Elysium Theatre worked with participants of the program and mentors to develop a performance using Brown Paper Puppets, as another way of storytelling that is not confronting for the participants or the audience and which still allows the individual to have a voice.
Apologies for poor video quality.
Narratives of Hope Ensemble emerged from the community owned program, Narratives of Hope, which has used the platform of storytelling to build new communities of understanding, to change perceptions about ‘the other’ and to create a more hopeful and peaceful future for all, including wider community. This has allowed participants to self-advocate and advocate on behalf of their communities through digital media, art or public speaking.
Elysium Theatre worked with participants of the program and mentors to develop a performance using Brown Paper Puppets, as another way of storytelling that is not confronting for the participants or the audience and which still allows the individual to have a voice.
Apologies for poor video quality.
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...and applied theatre for 2nd year student teachers as a way to introduce puppetry into the classroom to resolve conflict and encourage kindness.
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Made this little pocket puppet for my daughter as a comfort buddy when she was away from home. She even dances when she has a mind to.
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Brown paper becomes stronger when rolled. 
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Remember, puppets can be made from anything!
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Empty toilet rolls that have been soaked in water with food colouring can be gently manipulated into talking heads, for example.
Boag 'n Villea make a very attractive couple
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And when the wattle is flowering....
A few weeks into our very first lockdown, the beautiful Bill Withers passed away a day or so after I finished editing this little puppet show that featured a song of his sung by the Glee Club cast.
It became a tribute to Mr Withers x
It became a tribute to Mr Withers x
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...Or the rolls can be simply taped together to make a moving puppet.
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Pipe cleaners are so easy to bend and you can make characters with loads of personality with a little imagination.
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Here is Miss Hairy Legs sipping on a softie while enjoying a break from weaving.
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3D greetings can be made with pipe cleaner puppets.
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Stuffed or rag puppets don't have to be complex although obviously some will take more time. This one with super long arms (one of my early ones) in a moment of discovery.
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Training with a great team at Dead Puppet Society (DPS) led to the creation of
THE GOLDEN THREAD.
THE GOLDEN THREAD.
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Neville Tranter returned to Melbourne for BLACK HOLE THEATRE's Skill Laboratories - The Sum of the Whole, for an unforgettable intensive with XENO, who speaks every language.
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