A while ago I saw a similar post somewhere on another puppetry blog, and it got me thinking… who are my puppetry inspirations. So here they are:

1. My good friend Jeany. She is one of the people who first introduced me to puppetry, and when we produced our first show together, she taught us (me and Susan, my other Sticky Apple Legs co-founder) the basics of puppet building that I still use to this day. Her attention to detail is also what inspires me when I build, because the detail in her work is what made it so loved by everyone who saw it. She encourages me to push my skills beyond my limits, which is what good inspiration is supposed to do.

2. My good friend Susan. (Gee, that was obvious ) While Susan and I don’t always see eye to eye on things, I always found that debate with her helped clarify my positions or ideas on certain puppetry issues. And though we may argue on the little things, we do have similar tastes in theatre, which makes discussion with her even more important.

3. Ronnie Burkett. Ok, I know I mention him, like, constantly, but if you have ever seen his work, his performances, or heard him talk, you would realise he is one of the most passionate arts supporters around. His work and life prove that you can become a great puppeteer if you put in the time and effort, and his passion reminds us that being an artist is not just about expression, but about expressing a concept or emotion with as much depth and daring as possible. Burkett’s work is mastery, but also experimentation, play, excitement, sadness, and oftentimes, a scary portrayal of true life. Which is what puppetry is all about - creating life itself from inanimate objects.

4. Brian Henson and the Jim Henson Co. Notice I’m not saying Jim Henson. Though, of course, I do think Jim Henson has provided a lot to puppeteers, I am not so much inspired by The Muppets, but by Farscape. Yes, that sci-fi TV show. Because of creatures like Pilot and Rygel, we got to see puppetry on TV which was not for children, but rather for adults. It’s very rare to see such puppets on screen, except in cases like Yoda - who is incidentally now a computer graphic and not a puppet anymore. Brian Henson and the company created and produced Farscape, and to them I’m grateful. I’m very much in favour of increasing interest in puppetry for adults, which does not include lewd, crude and rude. Pilot and Rygel are not just puppets; they are characters in their own rights, and show us what puppetry can do if given the opportunity, the space, a good script, and a supportive producing team. (Those who love the show may be pleased to know that new webisodes - episodes only for the web - are going to be produced. Read about it here)

5. My friends: Daniel, Tom, and Double Pump Producement. Though they’re not puppeteers, they do inspire me. They create some of the funniest comedy around, and some of my most enjoyable theatre experiences was working with them. Their continued work in creating original comedy reminds me that theatre is as much about having fun as it is about taking your work in theatre seriously - and it can often overlap if you allow it to. It is this balance of fun and seriousness that I strive to find in my own theatrical and puppetry work, and every time I find myself getting bogged down in a puppet design problem, I am reminded of all the silly things I have done in my life (some of them with these actors), and somehow the problem disappears.

Ok, so that’s my list… What about you? Got anybody who inspires you?

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