Dr Egg and the Man with No Ear in Canada

Dr Egg and the Man with No Ear tells the story of a mysterious scientist, Dr Egg, who offers a previously unthinkable possibility; he can grow the man a new ear. But first he needs a piece of his daughters' precious flesh. The Man refuses to harm his daughter. Eager to make her father happy, the daughter makes her way to the lab of Dr Egg and offers her ear. When the science is done, the ear grows and grows. But it does not stop there. A new life is made. And it looks a lot like her. The Daughter is faced with a serious dilemma.

Through puppetry, projected animation, original music, and performance, this exquisite production raises issues surrounding genetic modification in a fun and whimsical setting. It was created and directed by Australian artist Jessica Wilson and based on an original story by Catherine Fargher. Co-directed by Redmoon Artistic Director Jim Lasko, Dr. Egg and the Man with No Ear provides entertainment and insight for children and adults alike.

The show first opened at the Sydney Opera House in July 2007 and then played at the Victorian Arts Centre. In August 2008 it began a very successful seven-week season at Redmoon Theater in Chicago, USA.  Dr Egg presented at the International Performing Arts for Youth Showcase in January 2009 and is touring Canada in October / November 2010. It will play at Les Coups de Théâtre in Montreal, at The Cultch in Vancouver, at the Ottawa International Children’s Festival and at the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse.  The highlight of the tour will be a season at Les Coups de Theatre in Montreal, which coincides with CINARS.  So if you are in that part of the world, keep a look out for it!

'Billie Twinkle' coming to Australia

International acclaimed master puppeteer Ronnie Burkett and his Theatre of Marionettes, return to Sydney Opera House with his latest show, Billy Twinkle – Requiem for a Golden Boy, 1–16 October.

Prior to Sydney, he is scheduled to perform in Geelong from 25-29 August and after Sydney, he will be playing in Melbourne from 3-20 September.

Semi-biographical of Burkett’s own life, Billy Twinkle is a story of puppets and puppeteers, and of artists and their art. Throughout the show, Burkett is present as the sole puppeteer, manipulating a multitude of beautifully crafted marionettes and providing all the voices. Mixing the personal and political, Burkett’s Theatre of Marionettes continuously performs to great critical and public acclaim on Canada’s major stages and as a guest company at international theatre festivals.

Exploring the line between art and life, his offbeat wit and visual charm plumb the highs and lows of the human experience, creating an exotic stage universe of humanity and compassion.

Canadian critic, Peter Hinton talks about the production 'Billy Twinkle', Requiem for a Golden Boy, here! There is also a really interesting lecture by Ronnie Burkett discussing his career at His production of 'Tinka's New Dress' at the Puppet Centre Trust in London in 2007. You can watch it on You Tube in three parts: here, here and here!

A special discount is being offered for puppet people in Sydney. The discount is valid until 31 August for certain performances at $39, when the promo code PUPPET is used online. Click here for details!

Columbia Icefields

We were jumping for joy or at least to keep warm in the Columbia Icefield today, on the way to Jasper in the Canadian Rockies. Its the largest icefield south of Alaska, shimmering glacial ice and snow cover some 325 square kilometres. The on-going accumulation of snow continuously feeds eight major glaciers including the Athabasca, Dome and Stutfield glaciers, which are all visible from the Icefields Parkway. The drive from Lake Louise to Jasper was like driving on another planet, especially for foreigners like us who are not used to all that snow, ice and fast flowing rivers. What a treat to drive through this gorgeous landscape on our way west towards Vancouver!

An International Creative Thinktank

Imagine an Arts Centre in compassing every art - plastic, visual and performance and combine this with leadership, scientific and aboriginal cultures and what you have is The Banff Centre, here in the Canadian Rockies. It's something we've really only been exposed to this weekend and all of this surrounded by the most extraordinary nature and snow covered mountains on all sides. Our Paper Playback Workshop yesterday was attended by some of the Banff creative leadership and was a powerful experience for all of us, sharing ideas and play together. Last night we attended a Community Leadership debate on whether “communityship” can replace traditional leadership at the local level. And the result of a refreshing and stimulating dialogue, so open and yet so rare in the greater artistic world. This example which we discovered this weekend, truly shows communityship and dedication to the arts globally. Today we leave back to Calgary and up to Lake Louise. The trek west has begun!

Banff...

This morning we arrived at The Banff Centre, surrounded by the Rockies, which has provided professional career development and lifelong learning for artists and cultural leaders in performing, literary, new media, and visual arts. Their work is showcased throughout the year in public concerts, exhibitions, and events, culminating in the Banff Summer Arts Festival. Tonight we saw an incredible Jazz Concert showing off some of the best young musicians this place has to offer. Tomorrow we have a day to explore the place and do a mountain walk. On Monday we are conducting a Paper Playback Workshop for the Banff Leadership Program. This inspiring place seems unique and it offers every combination of arts of every kind, leadership and a conference centre all inside the Banff National Park.

The Canadian Rockies

Arriving in Canmore, in the Canadian Rockies, from Calgary this week was an incredible surprise. The beauty surrounding the town is extra- ordinary, with snow covered mountains, fast flowing rivers and beautiful sunshine. It's the ideal place to take off time from the fast pace of the city and regenerate one's creativity. And that's just what we did before grabbing the Greyhound for Banff today...

Montreal

Arriving in Montreal late last night after a two-hour British Airways delay in London was a relief. We are staying with our friend, Canadian puppeteer, France Chevrette in a small town outside Montreal. France has done interesting work throughout Canada. In 1992, she accompanied our 'Puppets Against Aids' on its Canadian Tour to rural and urban areas throughout Canada. She continued the work afterwards, especially in northern Quebec, working with Inuit puppeteers for the Katavik School Board TV series in Inukjuak. Some of the videos of France's cabaret performances can be seen here!