Happy Birthday Richard Bradshaw

A serious looking 'Santa' alias Richard Bradshaw came for breakfast this morning with his charming wife Margaret, just in time to celebrate his seventy-third birthday in Sydney.
For those who don't know Richard, he is Australia's Master of the shadow puppet and our walking encyclopedia of world puppetry.

Jim Henson made a documentary of Richard's work back in 1985. You can watch an extract of that here! In 1986, Richard received the Order of Australia, an honour bestowed to him for his great service to Australia through puppetry, which he is still engaged in full-time. I believe Richard is best known for 'The Marionette Theatre of Australia'.  Richard became it's artistic director in 1976 until 1983. You can also watch Richard's most recognised musical piece 'Super Kangeroo' here.
 
On behalf Puppetry News, I'd like to wish Richard a wonderful birthday for today and an inspiring year ahead for 2012.

Is it a Puppet or a Dog?

It's that time of year again. The silly season - A time to have a laugh and discuss where puppetry begins and dog training ends. Check out the film clip here and decide for yourself. Enjoy! (Thanks to Dina in Chicago)

Gumboots for Xmas?

In the spirit of Xmas, South African 'puppet' politician Helen Zille was invited onto ZA News to distribute 'safety items' to both Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu, not that they really going to need them this Christmas. But it gives me a chance to wish you all a very merry & safe holiday season, wherever you may be hiding out! More stuff to come.. watch this space..

Yet another Puppet for President..

Why on earth the United States would need another presidential candidate is anyone's guess. But it looks like there is another rather 'conservative' nominee for the top job in the shape of an illogical Marvin E. Quasniki. What his background is, nobody really seems to know, but he is apparently up there prepared to fight Obama. You can also see him being interviewed recently on CNN here!

The Puppet Barge sails on..

 

I consider living life on a barge pretty unusual, but a puppet theatre on a barge is something quite extraordinary. Movingstage Marionettes were established by South African born, Gren Middleton and his British partner, Juliet Rogers, who both used to work at The Little Angel Theatre. I first met them back in 1979 at my first International Puppet Festival in London, where we shared a performance venue. That was the same year they established the Puppet Barge. We recently reconnected at the Suspense Puppet Festival in London, where they were still performing. The Guardian featured a fascinating article and audio interview with the youngest member of the Middleton family, Stan. You can listen to the interview and watch images from the barge theatre here!
As I searched the You Tube memory banks, I came across some amaising memories of the Middletons and their work. Take a look here and here!

Creativity 101 in Education?

I realise that by now you must all have been exposed to this brilliant lecture by education guru, Sir Ken Robinson, on the future of our standardised educational systems worldwide.  I often refer to Sir Ken in my lectures on the importance of 'creativity' in schools. What constantly bamboozles me is that despite all the empirical evidence from science and research, our education system is constantly being standardised and nationalised, hence the imposition of our 'NEW' National Curriculum in Australia.
Is a one-size fits all strategy really benefiting our society today? Is our information revolution making or breaking our children's education? As creative collective which we belong to, do you believe that an 'academic' approach should outweigh a creative and free-thinking one? You decide and let me know your thoughts!

The Puppet As Metaphoric Being

What we have been discussing in our 'World of Paper' workshops over the past few weeks in London, Lisbon and now in Melbourne is the intense power of the puppet or object and where this originates. In this remarkable clip from TEDx Dirigo, John and Carol Farrell from the US-based company, Figures of Speech, demonstrate the power of the puppet in addressing issues of identity and existence which move with striking speed from lifeless object to mythic icon.