The W.P. Puppet Theatre Society E:Post


E:Post ~ July 2007

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Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

- Picasso

Call for Board Members

We want to thank out going board members for their valuable service and invite any persons interested in helping on our board to come forward.

Two year service period - meetings 4 times a year.- starting this September
No particular experience required just a commitment to quality puppet theatre and education.
Please call Wendy at (403) 228-3373 or email wppuppet@telus.net

Recalling Puppet Power 2007

Visit the W.P. Puppet Theatre website at www.wppuppet.com/pp2007.html for photos and information.

Puppets at Weekend University of Calgary

Wendy will be teaching “Intro to Puppetry” Drama 571.71 on Saturday mornings through the fall 2007. Stand by for more information. It will need 12 students in order to run --- so tell your friends!

Artistic Director Report 2006-07

This year was a transitional year to our re- directed activities for the future.
Precipitated by Wendy’s reduction of hours (Wendy accepted the full time position as Programs Director at the new Creative Kids Museum) WPTS contracted Fif Fernandes to deliver workshops and residencies as well as the productions “Why the Rabbit’s Nose Wiggles” and “Christmas with the Monsters”. Fif’s abilities as actor and director were well utilized as she undertook five residencies and presented a number of workshops, including the Mayors Environment Expo. Both she and her audiences enjoyed the performances which totaled 23 for the year.

Wendy concentrated on adult education and presented at the Fine Arts, Weaving Words and Young Authors conferences as well as the Palliser Teachers, Calgary Independent School and Calgary Teachers conventions. Wendy also taught one school residency.

In all 5,800 children and adults participated in WPTS shows and workshops.

The main focus of the year was the May 25- 27th Puppet Power 2007 conference on Puppets as Agents of Social Change, held at the Rosza Centre, University of Calgary. Our wonderful nine person committee worked in conjunction with the contracted events planning company – Pivotal Events from Edmonton. An inspiring and informative weekend of performance, workshops, panel and world café, NGO action fair, plenary and keynotes addresses proceeded flawlessly with 85 people attending. WPTS valued our partnerships and alliances with the Faculty of Communications and Culture, Banff Centre Leadership Lab, Arusha and Calgary Dollars, the Calgary International Children’s Festival and Cry Havoc.

In February the WPTS board and other stakeholders met to discuss our future operations, making the following decisions:

to suspend all school operations for 2007-08 year
to suspend all community operations until further notice

to focus on: Adult education; Special projects; and Creation of a puppet production for international and provincial touring

WPTS thanks outgoing board president Peter Barnett and director Valerie Walker for three years of service as well as Fif for all her work. We welcome Kate Monaghan as our special project consultant on contract.

We also thank our funding partners, The Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and for conference funding the Calgary Arts Development Authority and The Community Initiatives Program – Alberta Lotteries.

Puppets need new homes:

These puppets all performed in Debussy’s “Toybox” in 2001 as the Calgary Philharmonic played. They are $150.00 OBO. They come in cardboard crates, each weighing between 10 and 20 pounds. They’re in great condition as the show was only performed twice!

Ballerina:
She stands about 4 feet tall, graceful and pink!

Harlequin:
This bonnie fellow is about 3 ½ feet tall and moves by bouncing – on account of no legs

Punchinello:
His 3 foot figure is dressed in gold brocade, but he still has no manners. He sticks his purple nose into everything!

Baba Yaga's Hut Baba Yaga’s hut was used as Charles Foreman played Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” way back in 1981. It’s about 5 foot cube with peaked roof and comes in a crate 4’x3’x1’ weighing 50 lbs. $150 OBO. It’s not for young children, but older kids might enjoy it as a wee playhouse.

auger Can anyone think of a use for a working auger set into a plexi tube? It was part of a set piece for “Beaka’s Incredible Invention”. Both the auger and the tube were too expensive to just toss. $50 OBO.

Don’t miss Puppet Rampage 2007!

www.puppetrampage2007.org

Copenhagen Puppet Festival

Mark you calendars: February 11th to 15th 2009. www.puppetfestival.dk

20th UNIMA World Congress

Perth, Australia, April 2- 12th 2008
www.unima2008.com

For your international puppetry news:

perso.orange.fr/unima