Puppetry
The artform of puppetry can be found widespread through Scotland, and is ever-developing. Puppet Animation Scotland recieves Foundation funding from the Scottish Arts Council. As well as ‘puppet theatre’, ‘theatre with puppetry’ has a presence in Scotland and has received Scottish Arts Council support.
The Puppet State Theatre Company won the Established Talent category at the Scottish Eco Prize for Creativity for their production of The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono. The ceremony took place in Glasgow on 14 November 2007.
The Prize is the initiative of the Eco Trust and celebrates artistic work in any creative form which demonstrates flair and imagination inspiring others to engage in environmentally friendly lifestyles.
Richard Medrington accepted the Established Talent award on behalf of the Edinburgh-based Puppet State Theatre Company. The Man Who Planted Trees tells the story of how a French shepherd and his dog persevere to overcome various obstacles and transform a barren wasteland into a rich woodland ecosystem by planting thousands of trees over a period of 40 years. The production uses a unique blend of comedy, puppetry and storytelling, with multi-sensory effects of scents, wind and rain.
Experienced puppeteers Richard Medrington and Rick Conte, in association with designer/director Ailie Cohen and colleagues Elspeth Murray and Barney Strachan have engaged audiences in schools, theatres, festivals, conference centres, tents, forests and community gardens all over the UK from Campbeltown to Cambridge. Since the show premiered in May 2006, with seed funding from the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council, the show has been performed nearly 300 times to approximately 30,000 people. Last month they were at the Galway Children’s Festival in Ireland and they have tours booked into 2009. Invitations have come from the USA, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Bermuda, the Middle East and Darfur.
Richard Medrington, on behalf of the Puppet State Theatre Company said:
'The Man Who Planted Trees is a story that has inspired many environmentalists since Jean Giono wrote it in the 1950s. We’ve had a lot of fun adapting and performing it and it is a great honour to receive an award like this from people who really know both about creativity and the environment. We feel inspired to keep touring the show, though we may not manage 40 years like the guy in the story!' |
Check out some of the past features on puppetry below.
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Puppetry
Featured in April 2005 |
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Ailie Cohen
Featured in April 2005 |
Download:
The Potential of Puppetry: A Review of the Sector in Scotland - Published 2005
A review of the puppetry sector in Scotland produced by the Scottish Arts Council. This review was prompted by recognition that, while puppetry has a positive artistic, recreational, educational and social value (given its ability to be larger than life, accessible and cross-cultural) the puppetry sector in Scotland appeared to lack a profile. |
| Scottish and UK Puppetry organisations' websites including puppeteers directories and links lists | |