So what's new in 2013?

 
Manipulate is the sixth edition of the Scottish Visual Theatre Festival coming up again from 2 - 16 February. With exceptional animation and visual theatre of the highest quality from England, Estonia, Finland, Israel, the Netherlands, Russia, Scotland and the USA - and a film programme from all global points in between - they present a festival designed to entertain, intrigue and inspire. Check out their website here.

‘Show me a Story’ is a masterclass workshop in February, being led by Russian artist Anna Ivanova-Brashinskaya at the Battersea Arts Centre in London. This masterclass focuses on the development of purely visual narrative, introducing participants to the basic elements of dramatic art as applied to the telling of stories without words. This work is a particular passion of mine, so I'd highly recommend this to any upcoming puppeteers in the UK.  Using the classic text ‘The Overcoat’ by Gogol, the participants will develop their visual storytelling skills and understanding through practical assignments executed individually and in small groups. For more information, contact Louise at the Puppet Centre here. There are many other fabulous projects being produced by the Puppet Centre. Check it out here and also there's Animations Online here.

There's a brilliant new puppetry archive, produced by Annette Dabs at the German Forum of Puppetry Arts in Bochum. There are many great articles in English, so don't get put off by the German language menus. The German content can also be translated instantly by Google translate for those with a real passion for great content. 

And there's so much more, but to conclude, take a look at what American puppet artist, Janie Geiser is up to. Clouded Sulphur (death is a knot undone) is produced by Automata, directed by Janie and written by Erik Ehn will be running from 8 - 17 February at Automata in Los Angeles. The piece is a multidisciplinary performance work that merges puppetry, projection, text, and music to explore the emotional landscape of inexplicable loss. For more information, go to their website here.