Ready yesterday?s post here. (Pics to come… check the bottom of this post for a link to the pics)

This is written ahead of time, and will be updated if necessary when I get back to Melbourne. 

Today I?m checking out, but will probably spend the day riding the ferry, as that?s one of the things I?d really love to do (there?s no ferries as such in Melbourne, unless you go on the Yarra River, which is a lovely shade of dirt brown. And it is dirt brown for a reason. However, Perth?s ferries go through the bright blue ocean, which I?ll enjoy much more), or else I?ll try and do some sightseeing. 

At about 5pm, I meet the airport shuttle and get my flight back home. I get in at 1am on Monday? :P 

So because I?m writing in advance, I thought I would do a summary of highlights of the festival. (EDIT: I wrote this last night, but couldn’t post it in advance, so I’m writing in an internet cafe before I head off for the last day in Perth) 

Here?s a tally of the shows I saw:

• Diva 8/5 (yes, you read that right)
• Angel 6/5 (ditto)
• Bradshaw?s Shadows 5/5
• Z is for Giraffe 5/5
• The Arrival 4/5
• Puppet Sports 4/5
• Chiryu Karakuri Puppetry 3.5/5
• Explosion Therapy 3/5
• Allenby’s Famous Flea Circus 2.5/5
• Sleeping Beauty 2/5
• Fatal Attraction (no score; amateur show)

My highlights of the UNIMA 2008 festival (UPDATE 30 July 2009: the site is no longer available):

• Learning a new building technique on one of my favourite styles of puppets, Ningyo joruri (bunraku) with Nori Sawa
• Seeing some of the great venues in Perth, including Rechabites and the Blue Room
• Top performances: Diva and Angel
• The Million Puppet Project display
• Creating shadow puppets with Richard Bradshaw
• The great analytic tips from Neville Tranter, which I?ve found myself using and applying to all of the shows I saw since the workshop
• Meeting all the wonderful puppet people in classes, forums and shows

In particular, I would give a big highlight to the inspiration and clarity that the last 12 days have given me, in trying to find my own style, interests and ideas. For six years I?ve been doing puppetry, mainly on my own, and felt that I was trying to find my own style by tasting a little of everything; and now I feel as though I finally understand what I want to do, what type of puppets I want to use, and how to move forward ? or at least for the near future. 

I?d like to say a big goodbye to those whom I met here for the first time:

• Hilary Talbot, whose easy-going friendship made me feel so welcome, especially as I have felt so separate from the local puppet community over the last few years
• Gary Friedman and Sharon Gelber, who gave me a great opportunity to flex my creative muscles, and whose workshop helped me learn a lot about my own desires in terms of design and writing for puppetry
• Kathy, Jill, Kristen, and Francis, whose finished bunraku puppets I?m looking forward to seeing
• Nori Sawa, whose work I would love to see one day in Australia (if the luggage ever turns up)
• Philip Millar, whose animatronics I absolutely adore
• Grant, Sue, Graeme, Luke and Bec, all from Theatre Australia, whom I hope I can see again soon ? if not, I?ll be sure to keep in touch online!
• And a goodbye to those I?ve already met: Sue Giles and Simon Abraham, who I?ll no doubt see in Melbourne when I get back
• And goodbye to all those other people I got introduced to, but didn’t talk to much…

I?m looking forward to coming home, but I?ll also be greatly disappointed. There?s a lot here that I?ve learned, and I?m so completely pleased and proud that I managed to come to Perth without having a panic attack, and was able to travel like a ?normal person?. I?ve learned about things in that sense: but I?ve learned so much more about puppetry and where I want to go with it. Coming home will be hard, because life will return to hunting for work, and trying to earn money, all the while trying to balance it with my artistic needs. I know that I will lose a lot of what I?ve felt ? mainly inspiration and involvement ? while I?ve been in Perth, but I hope that I can return home with at least a step in the right direction. 

I?m already thinking of planning my trip to the next festival, but I?m not sure how I feel about it being announced ? only recently ? that it will be held in China. Nevertheless, I would like to say to all of you who missed out on coming to the festival: even if you can?t go to another country, do try and find a similar festival in your own. It?s an amazing experience, and it?s so wonderful to come together and spend time, exchange resources/information/business cards, and to simply share the wonder that we all have with these objects we call puppets. UPDATE: Read about the last day here, as well as see the pics, and find a wrap up of the festival and a link to all diary entries.