Making the puppets for ‘The Lost Thing’

Posted by hil

As promised below, here are some pictures of the build of Jigsaw Theatre Company’s production of The Lost Thing. Imogen Keen and I have been making the puppets for the production.

The aluminium structure of the Lost Thing itself was made by Brian Sudding, who also constructed the set. We then covered and detailed it, adding tentacles, claws, and eye mechanisms. The designer, Richard Jeziorny, added further painted detail. The whole framework is made to be suspended on another frame, so that the Lost Thing is about 3 metres tall.

Imogen Keen covering the basic shape of the Lost Thing with foam.
Marie-Martine Ferrari (co-founder of the original Skylark Puppet and Mask Theatre) and I covering the foam shell with muslin.
From above, showing some of the aluminium framework inside.
After the first coat of paint.
The boy’s parents on their sofa under construction.
The mysterious janitor, in an early stage of being made.

The photographs were taken by Tim Raupach. I should have some more in a few days time.

The Lying Rodent

Posted by hil

I’m in the same mind set as a net friend who recently said that he just wanted the electioneering to be over and to be able to cast his vote with grim determination. So I’m trying to let most of it pass me by. But the appearence of protestors in body suits added a couple of brief moments of levity this last week.

At the Perth campaign launch Howard was hugged by a large sheep, protesting the live sheep export trade. A few days later a large rat pestered Howard while he was electioneering on the streets in his home electorate of Bennelong, while other protestors called ‘Lying Rodent for PM’ from across the street.

The ‘lying rodent’ tag stems from a sworn statement a few weeks ago by a Queensland Liberal Party branch official, Russell Galt, that Liberal Senator Brandis said of Mr Howard in relation to the Children Overboard senate enquiry: “He is a lying rodent” and “we’ve got to go off and cover his arse again on this”. Senator Brandis denied the allegation on oath, but went on to explain with a barristor’s distinction:

‘He would only ever call Howard the rodent; never a rodent, because the former is a nickname, whereas the latter would be a pejorative term.’

According to the same article,

‘… the PM has been descriptively tagged as the rodent almost as long as he’s been ironically tagged as Honest John. The nickname dates from the long internecine war between Howard and Andrew Peacock some 15 years ago.’

It began as a reference to the way Howard ceaselessly gnawed at Peacock’s leadership, and was adopted by John Hewson supporters for much the same reason.

Some people in the Australian Rodents Fanciers Society are offended by the slur:

“We would have to say that it’s quite funny that it’s not technically correct,”

“Unfortunately, most rodents, we have around 30 at our place, actually have a little more integrity than prime ministers and politicians.”

The Lost Thing: Jigsaw Theatre Company

Posted by hil

Things have been pretty busy around here as the build for Jigsaw Theatre Company’s upcoming production of ‘The Lost Thing’ nears completion. Based on the book by Shaun Tan, ‘The Lost Thing’ is premiering at the National Gallery of Australia, as the main event of their Children’s Festival. Performances will be in the Small Theatre from 6-9 October 2004, and hopefully will tour to other galleries in time.

I’ll post some pictures of the build soon, but in the meantime, check out Finding: The Lost Thing, an article by Gillian Freeman in the current issue of Artlook. Its an interview with the director, Greg Lissaman, and Shaun Tan, (who is also the visual consultant for the show), and who was recently in Canberra working on the painting of the set with the designer, Richard Jeziorny.

Kenny Koala goes to Russia

Posted by hil

Since he emanated from my studio a few years ago, I always take an interest in the activities of Kenny Koala, the puppet mascot and community liason agent of the Australian Federal Police.

For instance, back in March, Kenny and his mate Stewart Waters celebrated Harmony Day by skydiving into Turner Oval, providing some excitement for the kids who up until his descent had been having a great deal of fun bopping each other on the head with blow-up plastic mallets courtesy of the Bunnings show bags that were being distributed.

This week 500 teddy-version Kenny Koalas are being airlifted to Beslan, to be given to the children who survived the school hostage massacre.

‘AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty said it was hoped the Kenny Koala Bears, which have been popular with generations of Canberra children, would provide some comfort to children affected by the tragedy.’

The Chequered Ribbon Association, the AFP charity which is organizing the gift, usually sells the Kenny Koala bears as a collectable limited edition toy for fundraising. They are ‘about 25cm in height and is dressed in an AFP uniform with a white peak cap.’

The CRA is asking for donations to help with financing the airlift, and to help with the fundraising there will be an auction at the Canberra Services Club (on Canberra Avenue in Manuka, next to the Manuka Oval) tomorrow, Thursday 16th September 2004 – 6pm for 7pm start. A single numbered Constable Kenny Koala will be one of the items up for auction. ‘Single numbered koalas are are only offered to the public occassionally, so this is a great opportunity to secure what is becoming highly collectable.’

Oh … and you have to know Kenny’s motto: ‘What do we want? No trouble!’ ;-)