 W. P. Puppet Theatre
Presents
Puppet Power 2007 –
Puppets as Agents of Social Change
May 25-27 2007
Rozsa Centre – University of Calgary
“Puppet Power” is a bi–annual
conference that explores the power of puppetry beyond
performance. It features keynote speakers and hands-on
workshops led by international artists and professionals.
Other components often include panel and round table
discussions, puppet performances, Master classes,
puppet exhibits and film/video screenings.
Past conferences have included “Puppet Power
2005: Puppets Promote Literacy”, “Puppet
Power 2003: Embracing Multiculturalism”, “Puppet
Power 2002: Puppets as a Therapeutic Medium”.
This year’s theme “Puppets as
Agents of Social Change” intends to
explore:
Past conference participants have said:
"More than I expected. Many ideas, new art form
integrating with visual art, connection to my relation
with words"
"It was great to get out of the box of regular
items and use other items. Workshop was too short.
I had so much fun"
- current puppet usage in political and social etc.
activism
- puppetry’s existing and potential role in
promoting peace, as well as instigating change in
issues related to health, religion, education and
the environment
- how puppets can be used for community and organizational
transformation
- connected art mediums that also address the theme
i.e.: political cartooning, mask
- how to balance the medium and the message
- the aesthetics for public space art versus ticketed
performance space – are they different?
- At the same time we will provide training in making
and using various types of puppetry for a variety
of skill levels
The goal of the conference is to give participants
greater knowledge and increased comfort to use the
medium of puppetry more frequently in their various
professional applications.
Conference Components:
Puppet Power 2007 –
Puppets as Agents of Social Change
Friday May 25th – Sunday 27th 2007
Rozsa Centre – University of Calgary
Note: this conference is part of a University of
Calgary Special Topics course in Development Studies
(DEST 401) in the Communication and Culture Faculty. NOW FULL
Note: this conference is also part of DRAMA 571.71 – Introduction to Puppetry course. Please contact the University of Calgary Drama Department for more information.
Friday evening: EPCOR Performing
Arts Centre
Puppet performance in partnership with The Calgary
International Children’s Festival
The Workshop of the Butterflies by Puppentheater
der Stadt Halle - Germany This exquisitely crafted
performance adapted from the book of the same name
by Gioconda Belli, is rich with surprising visual
effects, life-size puppets and music from Verdi.
Opening Remarks:
Dr. David Swan
MLA Calgary-Mountainview
Dr. Tamara Palmer Seiler, PhD
Associate Professor & Division head
Culture Faculty of Communication & Culture, University of Calgary
Keynote address:
Gary Friedman was born in Cape Town, South Africa
in 1956. From an early age the puppet and its potential
in communication fascinated him. In 1976, he studied
drama at the University of Cape Town. During the eighties,
Gary obtained a French Government scholarship to further
his puppetry studies at the Institute Internationale
de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mezieres, France.
From Shakespeare in high schools in the early 80's
to tackling the battles of Apartheid, Aids, Abuse,
Democracy and Elections and eventually 'Puppets in
Prison' in the mid-90's. Gary has always taken up
the challenge to confront and facilitate change in
the world around him. Perhaps the most successful
and far-reaching has been 'Puppets Against Aids' which
began in South Africa in 1987, and toured the world
for over 9 years from Reunion Island to the remote
eastern Arctic, working mainly with indigenous people.
In 1992 he toured with OXFAM Canada and conducted
workshops throughout the north, including the Inuit
of Saluit, Kujuak and Inukjuak. In 2003, Gary re-launched
educational programs on the South Pacific island of
Fiji. Under the auspices of the Red Cross, he assisted
in training local puppetry teams tackling Aids, Sexually
Transmitted Diseases, Dengue Fever, Disaster Management,
amongst others.
Today Gary runs a Visual Theatre, Puppetry-in-Education
and Puppetry-for-Film and Television consultancy,
based at the Sydney Film School in Australia. www.africanpuppet.com
Throughout the conference:
Self directed Video viewing room.
Reception and mingle.
Saturday: A full day of hands on workshops,
a parade, a world café and panel.
Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary
Inspirational Plenary (part one):
Wendy Passmore-Godfrey
Founding Director W.P. Puppet Theatre Society
W.P. Puppet Theatre was established in 1991 and presents
over 250 performances and workshops across Canada
and internationally, reaching more than 30,000 children
and adults. As principal performer and creator Wendy
has hands-on expertise in all aspects of professional
puppet theatre, her training includes study with Petr
Metasek of DRAK Puppet Theatre, Czechoslovakia at
the University of Washington, attending the International
Institute of Puppet Arts in Charlesville-Mezieirs,
France and attending numerous Puppeteers of America
and UNIMA Festivals.
In the context of Social Change and Social Action
the message and the audience need to be very clearly
defined. The vehicle that delivers the message to
the audience has a very important role, which determines
to a certain degree how the message will be received.
One needs to consider how to balance the medium and
the message not forgetting the targeted audience,
which is as important as the other two elements. The
audience is the instrumental tool that could help
with or implement change. Given its history, puppetry
has already covered an unimaginable numbers of topics
in numerous ways. It is a fascinating medium that
is very flexible, forgiving and generous.
Break out workshops with:
Shadowjam
Chloe Ziner and Jessica Gabriel
Mind of a Snail (Sunshine Coast, BC)
‘Compost modernist’ arts duo, help participants
to create amazing shadow puppets with junk! Participants
create shifting light and shadow compostisions on
a white sheet. The group plays an improvised musical
soundtrack while recycled cardboard and plastic become
noble and highly symbolic puppet characters that dance
through abstract worlds. Our collective stories become
fluid, urging subconscious symbologies to boldly come
to the forefront. Shadowjam is always ripe with depth
and insight into whatever topics and politics are
immediately relevant to the group participating. It
is always pure magic!
Flags, Masks, Logistic and More
Anne Barber and Brad Harley (Artistic Directors)
Shadowland (Toronto)
Shadowland was founded in 1983 and is based on Toronto
Island. They are committed to the exploration of traditional
and ancient theatre forms, reactivating them for the
modern theatre context. As professional theatre and
visual artists, company members have drawn on the
influences of Welfare State International (UK), Bread
and Puppet Theater (US) and Peter Minshall and Caribbean
Carnival.
The workshop will explore aspects of Pageant puppetry
including: Flags -Beautiful fluid images with colour,
designs, phrases, slogans, and ways to manipulate
them individually and en masse. Music - The engine
of a parade – musical and sound techniques and
achieving them with skilled or less skilled musicians,
Images for all - Creating images for multiple participation
– simple, effective costumes, headpieces, flags,
and Other considerations - Making impact in the street,
outdoors or in large open spaces – getting people
to participate, stilt walking, permits, marshalling
and cooperation with police, using the landscape,
being aware of ambient visual and sound distractions
etc.
Scarf Marionettes dance to a World Beat
Tam Godfrey and Wendy Passmore-Godfrey (Founding
Director)
W.P. Puppet Theatre (Calgary)
Tam Godfrey is a wood shop teacher with Calgary School
Board with 14 years experience. His interest in puppets
and particularly marionettes, has led to a number
of projects with students and community including
carving, giant puppet design and construction and
the scarf marionette.
This workshop was first done for junior high ESL
students at a local school. The accomplishment of
a multi step puppet, including learning wood working
skills, fabric painting and the mechanics of stringing
a marionette was very gratifying to the students.
When they were able to include a demonstration of
their dancing skills to familiar music they were very
engaged and proud. The honoring of their homeland
culture and the respect by other students for their
‘cool’ puppet went a long way to helping
their sense of inclusion and welcome to a new country.
Participants will make the scarf marionette and time
permitting do a dance! 
Creating Eco-Theatre: Acting to make a difference
in our environment
Colin Funk and Connie Brill (Founders)
Precipice Theatre (Banff)
Connie Brill, along with her husband Colin Funk,
are the co-founders of Banff's Precipice Theatre,
1989 and it's Vancouver front runner the Happy Trails
Theatre Collective, 1985. Connie began her affair
with the arts through the dance world back in 1977
in Nanaimo and has been creating and teaching now
for close to 30 years. Most recently she has been
running Banff's Precipice Youth Theatre program, providing
training and performances for elementary to high school
students in the Bow Valley.
Colin is the co-founder and Artistic Director of
Precipice Theatre based in Banff, Alberta and has
spent the last 25 years working as an actor, director
and theatre producer throughout western Canada. Since
1989, Colin has led the creation of unique leadership
development initiatives that bring the arts, ecology
and business together through the medium of Theatre.
In 2001, Colin took on the role of Director of Creative
Programming for Leadership Development and the Leadership
Learning Lab at The Banff Centre.
Join co-founders of Precipice Theatre of Banff for
both discussion and demonstration of unique processes
for animating key ecological and social issues through
a variety of theatrical methods – physical theatre,
improvisation, serious play, puppetry and storytelling.
Action Plenary
Graciela Monteagudo has agreed to
join us as a plenary speaker – talking about
life as an Argentine human rights activist and community
artist. She has worked internationally with diverse
communities both on her own and with Bread and Puppet
Theater. Some of her work has included coordinating
puppet and street theatre actions in Latin America
and throughout the USA. She holds an MFA from Goddard
College and us currently a PhD student at the University
of Massachusetts.
Plenary workshop
Graciela will also lead a workshop for all conference
participants in making a quick Giant Puppet, before
we go on a parade, complete with drumming and stilt
walkers, through the University of Calgary campus.
Cry Havoc presents the annual “Calgary Action Fair” at the University of Calgary’s University Theatre lobby from 10 to 4. Come access ideas and information about making a positive difference in your health and your world! There’ll be products and prizes. Free admission. Information 283-9663 or 243-0505, calgaryactionfair@telus.net.
Panel and World Café
Thinkers and artists consider the big question -
"Can Puppets Change the World"
- Produced in partnership with the Banff Centre
Leadership Learning Lab.
- Confirmed panelists: Colin Jackson - The Epcor
Performing Arts Centre
Judd Palmer - The Old Trout Puppet Workshop
Clem Martini - Professor in the Drama Faculty U
of C, award-winning playwright
- Shiva Mousoudi - University of Tehran
Then everyone has the opportunity to discuss and
speak to the issues acknowledging, in the philosophy
of the World Café, that “…everyone
already has the wisdom and creativity to confront
even the most difficult challenges.”
Sunday: Another day of hands on workshops
and more
Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary
Inspirational Plenary (part two)
Wendy Passmore-Godfrey
Break out workshops (presented twice)
Forum Theatre and Theatre of the Oppressed
Mariette Sluyter (Calgary)
Mariette Sluyter will share her knowledge of TO and
its practices. Ms Sluyter is a theatre practitioner
and community activist who has combined the two for
much of her twenty year career. Most recently she
was the Artistic Director of All Nations Theatre but
left to start a new company - The Foundation Lab,
with other professional artists who recognize myth
and story as the key to understanding our past and
therefore creating a new future in community consultation.
The Foundation Lab employs all theatre techniques
and uses TO as a jumping off point for conversations
for change.
Mariette has studied TO with Augusto and Julian Boal,
David Diamond, Philippines Educational Theatre Association,
and Kathleen Forman. Her work has brought her around
the world using these techniques in communities in
throughout Canada, New York and Indonesia. As a theatre
artist she is a respected professional. A writer,
actor and director, her company Spintergirl Productions
was a leading touring feminist theatre company in
the mid-nineties. Peter Gzowski featured her work
on his show calling her "one of Canada's finest
young talents". She has performed throughout
North America to critical acclaim. Occasionally she
can still be convinced to perform in someone else's
plays but her passion lies in supporting communities
to tell their own stories and explore the truth behind
myths created to perpetuate oppression and expose
and celebrate the truths that will allow our communities
to thrive and evolve.
The workshop introduces participants to forum theatre
and the tools of Theatre of The Oppressed. There will
be games and techniques as well as dabbling into the
theories of Augusto Boal and Paulo Friere. It promises
to be a fun, whirlwind experience that will open your
mind to ways of using this highly evocative interactive
theatre technique to create change in your community.
This hour and a half will pique your curiosity for
more.
Earth Angel Puppets
Jhan Groom (Calgary)
Jhan Groom, BA has a diploma in professional art
(Burnley School of Professional Art, Seattle), a BA
in Psychology (emphasis in normal and abnormal child
development) with a minor in Drama from the University
of Calgary, and is currently working on completing
her certification as an Art Therapist through Kutenai
Art Therapy Institute. She is a multidisciplinary
artist / educator specializing in myth, mask, drama,
and visual / sculptural art with 30 years of teaching
experience currently working in Calgary in the area
of arts-integrated education in the classroom. Much
of Jhan’s work is done with high and special
needs (low functioning to gifted) children and focuses
on the use and effect of art-integrated education
on the psychological and academic needs of this population.
She was originally trained in the use of hand puppets
by Waltraude Stehewien (Saskatoon) and was a part
of Waltraude’s company before moving to Calgary
where she taught puppetry for the University of Calgary,
and was involved in producing her own puppet shows
such as A Stocking Full of Christmas, and a Three
Ring Puppet Show.
This workshop will expand on the idea of ‘Earth
Angels’ proposed by Shaun McNiff (father of
North American art therapy), to consider the stuff
in our every day lives as sacred and as messengers.
I find that making puppets out of everyday stuff that
we throw out is one way to start cultivating that
attitude.
Animal Education: Eco Education using plant
and animal puppets
Steve Jarand (Calgary)
Steve, BFA Calgary, studied with Keith Johnstone
in improvisation and often works with Loose Moose
and Evergreen Theatres. Between world traveling he
works in the Provincial Parks in the Rocky Mountains
doing Nature theatre. There he is able to put in practice
his ongoing interest in skills like storytelling,
puppetry and mask work.
Animal Education approaches the world of eco-education
through plant and animal puppets. Learn how to manipulate
puppet creatures of all different shapes and sizes.
Techniques of how to make your own puppets will also
be addressed. Discover tricks of teaching basic science
and ecology. 
How to get your message across
Anne Barber and Brad Harley
Shadowland (Toronto)|
(see bios above)
Anne Barber and Brad Harley of Shadowland present
how to get your message across looking at the creation
of theatre, using pageantry techniques, for the street
and outdoor spaces. They will cover the creation of
powerful images which are seen by a large, maybe moving
audience, or for an involved community and discuss
themes, stories, puppetry techniques and use of site
specific locations.
Closing thoughts
Gary Freidman and Sharon Gelber
Gary offers final thoughts and Sharon leads some Brain
Gym activities
Dr. Ronnie Joy Leah, Professor of
Development Studies at the University of Calgary Professor
for Development Studies: Arts Activism, Popular Culture
and Social Change, Dr. Leah will deliver closing thoughts
for the conference from her position as DEST 401 professor
and also from her multifaceted research and experience
in activism and social change.
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