An Introduction to the Creativity of Puppetry: One-day Workshops with Gary Friedman

Posted by hil

The experienced puppeteer and international trainer, Gary Friedman, is leading workshops entitled ‘An Introduction to the Creativity of Puppetry’. This one-day hands-on workshop is ideal for uni-students, teachers and professionals, and will include creative genres like object improvisation, paper performance and simple puppetry techniques in performance.

Over the past 20 years, Gary has used puppetry to nurture creativity through performance, all over the world. Participants will discover how the puppet, as a visual metaphor, can empower them with the confidence to improvise and perform.

Venue : Rex Cramphorn Studio, Dept of Performing Studies, University of Sydney
When : Sunday 15 and 22 August 2004, 10am to 5pm
Workshop fee : only $85- for the full-day (including materials)
Max participants : 20

For bookings or further info, contact Gary:

Gary Friedman Productions : Seymour Theatre, University of Sydney, PO Box 1125, Bondi Junction, NSW 1355, Australia
Office : 02-9351.7948
Mobile : +61-401-038.985
Email : gary@africanpuppet.com

‘The Space Between’ by Peter J. Wilson and Geoffrey Milne

Posted by hil

I’m looking forward to reading Peter Wilson and Geoffrey Milne’s book ‘The Space Between, The Art of Puppetry and Visual Theatre in Australia’. The book has just been published by Currency Press, and was launched last Tuesday at the Arts Centre in Melbourne.

‘A history of puppetry and image related theatre in Australia, written from extensive research but which also offers a personal view from one of Australia’s most experienced and imaginative puppeteers, Peter J Wilson. The book includes practical information on how puppeteers go about their work and documents a host of innovative companies and individuals who helped shape puppetry in Australia in its broadest sense; and looks at how puppetry has influenced, and been a part of, major theatre company’s programming.’

In 2002, when Peter held an Arts Centre Senior Creative Fellowship at the Victorian College of the Arts, he also brought together the celebration that was the first National Puppetry Summit , and he has gone on to develop the first Australian tertiary course in the art of puppetry at the VCA.

Geoffrey Milne is head of Theatre and Drama at La Trobe University, Melbourne. He has worked in theatre since 1967 in many capacities, especially as a lighting designer, and since the mid 1980s as a theatre reviewer for print and radio.

‘The Space Between’ is available from all good bookshops, and retails for $49.95. I’ll have to check when I get my copy, but I think the cover photograph was taken by Jeff Busby, and the featured puppets were made by Rob Matson.