Where to find puppet shows in Australia?
Please note: this post only applies to finding puppetry companies in Australia. If you are from another country, I would suggest visiting The Puppetry Homepage, UNIMA USA, or UNIMA UK.
(Please note: Here I’m discussing performance companies. If you’re looking for puppets to buy, see my post on ‘where to buy and hire puppets‘.)
Many people in Australia don’t even realise there is a strong puppetry industry in the country. While most puppeteers would disagree that it’s hard to find, I believe - after conversations with a lot of the general public and theatre-going audiences - that the industry is hidden, even to the point that professional theatre workers don’t know it’s there.
There are a lot of small, independent companies around the country, with many puppeteers working by themselves or in small groups. For the most part, it seems that puppeteers and puppet makers freelance, do children’s shows, as well as working with the ‘larger’ companies that are established around the country. Please note: this is not Google Maps. I list every Aussie company I find (not necessarily up-to-date, I have yet to post every link in my database) and it should be noted that I can’t list every company in every suburb around Australia. These companies can and do tour nationally, and just because they aren’t listed in your suburb, they may be near you at any given time. If you want something in your suburb, then you’d have better luck with the Yellow Pages. Additionally, if you’re looking for puppet shows for childrens parties, it’s up to you to read the descriptions of the companies below. Please the information is there if you just read it. The following is a list of companies but not shows themselves; I do try to post news when I hear of upcoming performances, and you can find that news in the Puppetry Events category (for best results, use the menu to the right and browse all the events listed).
Please do keep in mind that many, if not all, of the below companies tour - within their state, nationally or internationally.
VIC
In Melbourne, Victoria, the ‘large’ (I use apostrophes because these companies are actually under the government-devised funding heading of ‘medium’-sized theatre companies, but in the puppetry industry, these would be the largest of the puppet companies in Australia) companies are: Polyglot Puppet Theatre and Snuff Puppets. But as mentioned above, there are many individuals and small groups that exist out there, including my own company, Sticky Apple Legs. Another small Victorian company is Don’t Move Puppet Theatre. There’s also Dream Puppets, who are well-known for their work using blacklight puppetry. Polliwog Puppets in Gippsland offer children’s shows, as well as workshops. Festive Factory in Woodend, Victoria, offers performances and workshops. They seem to be mainly focused on children’s events and festival pieces. Another puppet company, Fairytale Puppets, perform children’s shows and offer facepainting. Asphyxia is a one-woman company; she makes and performs her own original shows and often tours around the country. Peepshow Inc is a small company that works from the Abbortsford Convent (a large Melbourne-based artist collective space), performing both shows for adults and for kids. Purple Capsicum Puppets do shows for both adults and children; their latest adult show won an award for Best Puppetry at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2009.
If you’re into shadow puppetry, you’ll want to check out Richard Bradshaw’s internationally renown work.
In other states, there are quite a number of puppetry companies, although notably more on the Eastern side of the country than the west.
WA
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is the ‘large’ company for the state.
NSW
Erth Visual and Physical Inc produce large puppets, combined with physical theatre (circus, acrobatics, etc.). They also offer workshops. Caboose Puppets produce children’s puppetry shows and Puppetease do puppet shows for kids, schools and museums. Sydney Puppet Theatre present children’s shows and workshops for both adults and kids. Gary Friedman’s new company, Corporate Creatures provides short films for corporate situations (ie. OH&S, diversity, etc.) and uses puppets for the characters. The puppets are lavish, a cross between Avenue Q style design and a larrikin Aussie sense of humour. They are available to hire for your corporate needs. Gracie Productions is based in Rozelle; they offer puppet shows and workshops that deal with community issues, particularly child abuse and domestic violence. Murray Raine Puppets offer puppet shows and workshops (the former for both kids and adults, the latter for just kids).
SA
Preston’s Historic Punch and Judy perform glove puppetry (duh!) - they also have a base in Sydney, and do workshops and lectures on Punch and Judy history. Sue Harris Puppets offers performances and workshops for both adults and children.
TAS
Terrapin Puppet Theatre is the state’s "large" company. They produce shows and offer classes for a range of audiences, from adult to children’s.
If you’d like to find a list of companies in your area, contact UNIMA Australia for some help. Also, Puppetry Australia has a small list of links.
I’ll be adding and extending this post as I come across new puppetry companies to list; I will also be adding any companies I find to my links page. You may also want to check out my post on where to find puppeteers in Australia, or the post on finding puppetry festivals in Australia.
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