Puppets in Melbourne

Help me interview Ronnie Burkett

UPDATE: I have since interviewed Ronnie and posted it here.

If you’ve been following me on Twitter, you may have seen some hints about this. I was going to reveal it when things were more confirmed, but I haven’t got much time left before now and the big reveal, so I have to do it today…

Well, I’ve managed to get myself a little media time with Ronnie Burkett - although a little unconfirmed as to times, I have been given an invite to the exclusive media call next week - and I honestly have no idea what to ask him. I’ve got a couple of really good questions relating to his work, and his trip down under, but I’m stumped as to what else to ask.

And then I had a brilliant idea: so many of you out there would love to know more about his work and how he goes about it… so why don’t you ask the questions?

You’ve got until Wed 2nd Sept (please remember time zone differences; I mean Wed Australian Eastern time) to send me questions. I’d really appreciate it if they were kept to stuff about his latest show (Billy Twinkle, more info here), or things that, as puppeteers and builders, we’d like to know. It’s got to be less fan-ish and more industry related. I can’t promise to ask them all, since I’ll have limited time with him, but I do promise to try.

Either leave your questions in the comments below, tweet them, or email me using the contact form on my site. 

I’m hoping that I’ll also be able to take some pics (!) at the media call, but no guarantees as to what exactly I can photograph. I will do my best to get as much behind-the-scenes stuff out of the experience as possible.


4 comments

Comment from: stacey [Visitor] · http://www.puppetpie.com
You should ask him if he wants me to hang out with him for a few weeks during the summer so I can soak up his Burkawsome.
29/08/09 @ 00:56
Comment from: Michelle Andrew [Visitor] · http://www.mermibridg.co.uk
*****
Hi there Naomi, its Wyohming from puppet hub. just saw your post and I'm up despite it being 2.30am here! I'm really jealous.. how come Aus has Ronnie, send back over here to the UK please! :) At first I was stumped by questions, I always think there are hundreds of things I'd like to ask him and then when it comes to it my mind goes blank so... here is what I came up with. Would love to see the finished interview when its done! 1) Billy Twinkle comes across as very autobiographic. Does he feel vulnerable having opened up a big part of his life to show to complete strangers on the stage and how much it is true? How close were his parents to Billy Twinkles? Was he really that precocious as a child? 2) He's touring many countries and has been for some years. Has he ever been stopped by customs and how do you explain a humanoid style shape in your luggage on an x-ray?! 3) The many countries have many different cultures.. does he have to adapt the show to the different cultures and senses of humour? Does he tone it down (or up?) for different countries based on whats classed as funny / acceptable there? 4) How many people work with him to make the puppets? How do they make the joints (I believe the rest is made of papier mache pulp), what materials are the joints and strings made of? 5) Does he ever see himself combining forces with other puppeteers for any joint shows or is the one man act the only way he's happy performing? 6) how is he coping with fame :D Where is his fan site and when is he coming on puppet hub! 7) Will he ever sell videos of his work or doesn't he want to take away from the theatre experience? 8) How has the way he makes his puppets changed since the first ones he made? What tips does he have for budding puppet makers? 9) Does he ever talk to the puppets when he's alone :) (hey there's no shame in it, I talk to my dog! 10) What do his friends and family think of his work, is his house full of puppets? where do they all get stored? 11) Has he ever had any complete disasters in the show and how has he got out of them without the audience noticing? 12) Whats next? .. well looks like I had a few more questions in me than I thought! Best of luck and do pass on my regards Michelle-of-the-red-shoes UK
29/08/09 @ 11:44
Comment from: Puppets in Melbourne [Member]
@Stacey :) Oh, I think I'll be asking if I can come crash at his place for a while too! (I think he jokingly offered the first time he came to Melbourne - although he *was* talking to a whole roomful of puppeteers at the time!) Burkawsome - I think I'll be stealing that word :biggrin:
01/09/09 @ 21:52
Comment from: Puppets in Melbourne [Member]
@Michelle Hi Michelle, Thanks so much for sending me your suggestions. A lot of them are along similar lines to my own ideas for questions, and I hope I can ask them all! (I get 30 minutes of time with him, so no guarantees - I’m sure I'll be spending at least 10 of it gushing :))) ... By the way, I thought he went to the UK before Australia? I'll be meeting him tomorrow, so I'll email you when the interview is up on my site. Thanks for the help!
01/09/09 @ 22:18

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