tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33329658982701352822024-02-07T02:31:48.300+00:00ThingumablogAndrew Kim's BlogAndrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-58387298950935388532012-02-19T00:38:00.002+00:002012-02-19T00:38:31.474+00:00Hullaba Lulu Showreel<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lCivSo1aFVs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-35418954296485310672011-11-01T16:59:00.005+00:002011-11-02T18:58:33.237+00:00Halloween 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WbOj__HfleqFPNLMxVLBNaMZGa0RLAJlj1ohlg79sPeq69XG8-W90YCNZl3siJ4_G4-FLRvVsZP8nc5i_gjcDtGyOOYqvFFiA-YVhh55XdA0NIP7yVHyINZlvHv1v_ib5Kt3IpD9me7g/s1600/MRL_1651.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670075420282882274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WbOj__HfleqFPNLMxVLBNaMZGa0RLAJlj1ohlg79sPeq69XG8-W90YCNZl3siJ4_G4-FLRvVsZP8nc5i_gjcDtGyOOYqvFFiA-YVhh55XdA0NIP7yVHyINZlvHv1v_ib5Kt3IpD9me7g/s400/MRL_1651.jpg" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></a><br />
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Two days after the big show and I'm only just starting to feel among the living again.<br />
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This was the fifth consecutive year I was the performance director of the <a href="http://www.liverpoollanterncompany.co.uk/">Liverpool Halloween Lantern Carnival</a>. This job means working very closely with Artistic Director Jo Pocock to create the story and briefs for all the different performance groups. This year I worked with 9 groups of theatre students and theatre artists, a group of dancers, a choir and a handful of professionals--probably about a 150 performers. And I also worked closely with the giant puppet makers, light designer and sound designer.</div>
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It's a very big project which needs to come together very quickly and I'm always slightly in awe that it does. The big day for me is the rehearsal day. Even though I've meet with each of the groups once outside of the big on-site rehearsal, I have a short window to pull it all together in the park the day before. This year, I was actively directing for 7 and half hours. Then ended up doing the light tech until 2:30am! </div>
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There was an estimated 20,000 at the event--quite a bit more than the 10-15,000 of previous years. It's a bit overwhelming actually as you can't really do anything except fireworks which everyone can see.<br />
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This year, we had four simultaneous stages which performed more or less the same finale so more people can see but even then, there were probably thousands of people who had no idea there was a finale going on. While I was in the booth trying to call the show people kept coming up to me and asking whether there was a fireworks display.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSv7vEh6sdB5FTQi5VKpf2Oar8sC6VFGpKeICSzOiroASY1oG6NZ5W2YwszmiCQVFhDqmUYCe-G4d1xSAPNr6R-PBOLq00N6qs5iFb05P2DpJlLKtmliRrMSd73TxjXnthGhy3DaI7kKO/s1600/MRL_1716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670075396844346626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSv7vEh6sdB5FTQi5VKpf2Oar8sC6VFGpKeICSzOiroASY1oG6NZ5W2YwszmiCQVFhDqmUYCe-G4d1xSAPNr6R-PBOLq00N6qs5iFb05P2DpJlLKtmliRrMSd73TxjXnthGhy3DaI7kKO/s400/MRL_1716.jpg" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;" width="265" /></a></div>
Still despite the long hours and incredible stress in the last few days, it's very satisfying to be able to put it all together in the end. At a certain point, I just have to trust my first impulse and give direction very quickly and move on to the next thing and trust that the culmination of all the small choices will come together as a unified whole. Probably the toughest job I do all year and therefore, one of the most satisfying.<br />
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These are photos by Mark Loudon. A more complete set is <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100510820387261923724/albums/5669592867890196337?hl=en" target="_blank">HERE</a>. The event was designed by Jo Pocock and Ewan Hunter; the dog Hungry Ghost giant puppet is by Eilidh Bryan, the long-necked Hungry Ghost is by Mandy Dyke and fire-drawing and pyro is by Gavin Lewery. </div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-85164823193879318572011-08-03T00:35:00.004+01:002011-08-03T00:45:02.784+01:00PUJA video<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="500" height="405" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WCAs0PiXwvk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a really lovely video from PUJA the event, I directed for LUXe last weekend in Ireland. It's just put together by an audience member but it really captures the magical mood of that place at dusk and us with our odd characters and rituals. (Though not sure about the backing music she chose--makes it feel like an advert for something. Actual show had odd bird soundscape, a choir and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/balkanaliensound">a klezmer band</a>.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a fantastic week working with a great team of artist. The response for the show has been very good and we're already starting to talk about our next collaboration--can't wait!</div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-32513414608300948862011-07-14T20:19:00.006+01:002011-07-14T21:25:54.680+01:00PUJA at Fort Dunree, Co Donegal, Ireland<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg694X5zqT3-A9ON8XDs8vAxfO8NVG56CcgbeYmLhY5tYPCsuzjoLsrNXjN01XRZquvSmwJqNMxyMPN6NSTWoV6iOUODWdXbt_WPggW-H_gf2GHePdOWjungspa8AoIuTLcELvIZg2j7gUP/s1600/fort-64.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg694X5zqT3-A9ON8XDs8vAxfO8NVG56CcgbeYmLhY5tYPCsuzjoLsrNXjN01XRZquvSmwJqNMxyMPN6NSTWoV6iOUODWdXbt_WPggW-H_gf2GHePdOWjungspa8AoIuTLcELvIZg2j7gUP/s400/fort-64.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629291512423548738" /></a><br /><div>Here are some fantastic PR photos of the event I'll be directing next week. We're off to Ireland on Sunday to help LUXe create a site-specific promenade spectacle set on <a href="http://inishindie.blogspot.com/2007/12/fort-dunree-inishowen.html">Fort Dunree</a>, on cliffs overlooking the sea in County Donegal. </div><div><br /></div><div>LUXe is a couple of artists who I've worked with during the <a href="http://www.liverpoollanterncompany.co.uk/">Liverpool Halloween Carnival</a>. They make fantastic structures and costumes for processions and events. This event which is close to their base and a part of the <a href="http://www.eaf.ie/detail.php?id=266&PHPSESSID=fe575785a96312c91f0a95332402e4df">Earagail Arts Festival</a> is a great opportunity for them to show what they do to their hometown crowd--kind of like what the <a href="http://www.handmadeparade.co.uk/">Handmade Parade</a> started as for us. As they are more maker than performers, they've asked me to step in and help them coordinate all the performances and shape the overall narrative. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvu3CpcOBIyzujgs0bYpSHWxb8kdYwVfBevmJNqN0JlH_otNO5syLFJlK4ex59XVMzBOmTTfPtjAj6r046qS5FoEW7dJwo0Ms9vV8Bzzkfs-J0k7BbSVtVnKbTbnCNtWBsB0HV3M2TLQC/s1600/fort+98.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvu3CpcOBIyzujgs0bYpSHWxb8kdYwVfBevmJNqN0JlH_otNO5syLFJlK4ex59XVMzBOmTTfPtjAj6r046qS5FoEW7dJwo0Ms9vV8Bzzkfs-J0k7BbSVtVnKbTbnCNtWBsB0HV3M2TLQC/s400/fort+98.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629291510627033730" /></a><br /></div><div>It's my first time in Ireland (I was in Northern Ireland one weekend as a <a href="http://thingumablog.blogspot.com/2007/12/derrylondonderry.html">Snow Person</a> but that's a different country) so I'm quite excited not just by the project but by seeing how things are done there. We're taking the dog and our camping kit as well and giving ourselves a few extra days after the performance to be a tourist. Love it when puppets take me to new places. </div><div><br /></div><div>What's also great is that later this year, we'll be back in Ireland performing with a couple of shows at the Dublin Puppet Festival! </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wPmZzvgThCB2FgJ-3uhLsthZdF-9yZkjxGF8s_mDhaSS8QzjV6qkWu1Y1Zz-zpG80JAoFLmWqHje7G8UB2lrBaQy0Nb8qz-am-3v0B-avDo_ru8Z1-ahJ6MYWdEuHoqoT7ctOjXI9n-S/s1600/fort+77.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wPmZzvgThCB2FgJ-3uhLsthZdF-9yZkjxGF8s_mDhaSS8QzjV6qkWu1Y1Zz-zpG80JAoFLmWqHje7G8UB2lrBaQy0Nb8qz-am-3v0B-avDo_ru8Z1-ahJ6MYWdEuHoqoT7ctOjXI9n-S/s400/fort+77.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629291504384322066" /></a><br /></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-54413498126386555382011-07-12T19:41:00.002+01:002011-07-14T20:10:50.637+01:00Wolverhampton and the Boo<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3w2QOII_XTAC-eqCc2NCpN9qPgU2GuZNAwfDxYvICWdWDaxP9ErXfDtCVrB54Z2AySxDev7bi9BwIVqP_qYBNZ1LilGi77kc_acXu76zrgQdOqNY1p1FdJh1L0JLt5ZG1Kj2-aai70Pig/s400/Hippo-Bonnet.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629280587819710114" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Another busy weekend for the giants. Kathy and I were at the Wolverhampton Show with hippo while Plucky had her first post parade outing at the Horse & Bamboo Puppet Festival.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>We didn't know what to expect as I noticed on the Wolverhampton Show website, the featured acts were Monster Trucks, motorcycle stunt team and parachute team. However, it's a big fair in a big park. We were part of a great puppet tent next to a bandstand with brass bands--thankfully, a reasonable distance from the fun fair. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jk9L0FKExPQFQSV7JGbSoqeHHvebXGk3Txky24tRD3S89X3LHhiB5HEmqLSzfIuTT13gSS29YSjdPGPc00V0BVT2aJDsfIyQ8eHSHNKeLfxiVLGxFR2A7TFf_KN7yQ4ULy4zdLr7tlEb/s400/Hippo-Tickler.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629280585509258706" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>It was organised by Michael Dixon who is the Archivist of the <a href="http://www.puppetguild.org.uk/">British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild</a>. It had a great puppet display, a fantastic Punch & Judy by <a href="http://richardcoombs.co.uk/">Richard Coombs</a>, a jig doll demonstration by Ted Beresford, and some great organ and automated puppets by Ollie. It had a great vibe, very warm audiences and perfect weather. See photos <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2004122317203.107428.1667981501">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihACfciziZzlewqliPWvmYvBlddUmcyA88yq7oqXc0rWC2dKZPL1hj6-hZYAUzM-7e41qrZxNMhlPft2lk5KIokH_avBnTq5muiSf2YGqUFd0Sap-W3rW_Anf6nFW9GiXFDMARzNUFKXfC/s400/Plucky-at-Boo-Fest.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629280590383779730" /><div><br /></div><div>In the meanwhile, Pluck was entertaining the audience between shows at the <a href="http://www.horseandbamboo.org/">Horse & Bamboo</a> Puppet Festival. Apparently, she's fond of a bit of Morris dancing but apparently not very good. I think with a bit of work to make her more structurally permanent and more van-able and make a good accompanying character, she'll be our new walkabout star for next year. She's a lot of fun, visually striking and just perfect for festival walkabouts. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2f75W2KXG0CshvgJpjh9Y99yjob_q4QMU5duco9szJXW2valwocn4gESxBnl0ltIApm2I9De8fY0NhMn6J9BeZs71d1eZIZO1T1rIasQ_xWVN6XelydauulnnpORdj-M4FIAAjngbMNd/s1600/Plucky-Crosses-Road.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2f75W2KXG0CshvgJpjh9Y99yjob_q4QMU5duco9szJXW2valwocn4gESxBnl0ltIApm2I9De8fY0NhMn6J9BeZs71d1eZIZO1T1rIasQ_xWVN6XelydauulnnpORdj-M4FIAAjngbMNd/s400/Plucky-Crosses-Road.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629280584899876850" /></a>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-60239193581173510642011-07-10T20:13:00.000+01:002011-07-14T20:14:31.712+01:00Taking Flight Video<iframe width="500" height="314" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E3VjkGbZSlQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-84260332042175104742011-07-10T20:11:00.001+01:002011-07-14T20:13:27.965+01:002011 Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade Video<iframe width="500" height="314" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mw8Kzi33m00?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-30786616616085852852011-07-05T13:57:00.005+01:002011-07-05T14:29:55.450+01:00Hat Fair<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="500" height="314" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2PYAhujQqwM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Had a great time performing <a href="http://www.thingumajig.info/creatures/hippochondriac/index.html">hippo</a> at <a href="http://www.hatfair.co.uk/">Hat Fair</a> last weekend. It's a big festival focused on street performers and buskers from all over the world. At breakfast one morning, we were sitting with an Australian performer who lives in Switzerland and a clowning duo who are from Brazil and Italy who now live in Greece (I suppose they can say the same for this Korean American who lives in England). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The High Street and Cathedral Square were absolutely heaving with people both days. The hippo went down very well but it was often a struggle to keep moving. We didn't do the the shows as much but mostly walkabout. I think we were both a bit shy about our street acts compared to what was on offer. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You gotta give it up to some of these performers. There such an amazing craft of not just their skills but the technique of keeping and building an audience; getting them to really take your side and really want to see what happens next. There's so much to learn about audience psychology. If were a little younger and braver, I'd try to put together a busking act and work at it until I learned how to do it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My favourites were: <a href="http://www.derekmcalister.com/derekHome.html">Derek McAlister</a>, the <a href="http://www.thespacecowboy.com.au/">Space Cowboy</a> and <a href="http://www.lesapostrophes.com/">Les Apostrophés</a>-- all who had plenty of talent but a very natural way of working an audience. Space Cowboy was very brash (but not mean), Derek was a very clear wordless clown, while Les Apostrophés were very subtle, gentle, precise yet captivating. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We also really enjoyed seeing and getting to know some of these very talented clowns such as <a href="http://georgeorange.com/">George Orange</a>, another displaced American who worked with Redmoon in Chicago and <a href="http://muteatro.blogspot.com/">Mu Teatro</a> who have invited us to come visit them in Greece. Sounds okay with me. </div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-10756820153301117082011-06-22T07:12:00.004+01:002011-06-22T09:17:11.495+01:00Giant Footballer<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_zb5lT5YB0A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's our latest: a giant boy footballer named Jimmy for the <a href="http://themanchesterdayparade.co.uk/">Manchester Day Parade</a>. He represents the boys and girl of the Abraham Moss Warriors Junior Football Club. It's in this incredibly diverse area of Manchester--the football of flags which were painted by the young footballers represent the 32 nationalities of the members of the club!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They where a terrific group of youths, really enthusiastic but focused. Credit goes to June Kelly a remarkable force of nature who makes this club happen. Her tireless organising and coaching was recognised with an MBE.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkChugtHNEPtX0vckkOLHJJN4p9tLN6RCYRkpGd57f7GrSnsphKlfaC83LK7JtpIpRriJki27MQ4qYJuvUSrrQhSrS6tXtW6N67N4tEfDWXa3garEVoi8dwzIWSrnYsTUkhkWRxu1Oj6pr/s400/Abraham-Moss_design.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620925543983250690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This puppet was a fun challenge for us as I've never made a giant puppet which had to run and kick before. Originally I thought we had to have three puppeteers on this but when I first tested the leg structure, K suggested it'd look better if I controlled it. It would have been hard to coordinate three performers to "run". I attached control rods to the back of the calves then realised that I could attach the head control strings to these. This allowed one performer to do both. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The head is clay-sculpted papier mache, the hands are pipe insulation sculpted and scrimmed, the legs and feet are cardboard. The marionette course I took in Italy last autumn with Frank Soehnle turned out very useful when it came to making hip, knee and ankle joints. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This puppet was a commission by <a href="http://www.walktheplank.co.uk/">Walk the Plank</a> for the Manchester City Council. As the gig came the week after the <a href="http://www.handmadeparade.co.uk/">Handmade Parade</a> (yikes!) We made his head and hands serve double duty. Turns out when Jimmy's not playing footie, he's a fishmonger (photo by <a href="http://bluplanetphoto.co.uk/">Blu Planet Photo</a>).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0aui3yEqByihuxN7cXDClUjezLy4DkZqVg2PGdXrE9J2HlLCUmkjOd2YuFB4-si1-Av8sCZuCdq5FpBC5ZYFMbuicIs6lvmo4kvMuteBmoln8s04y2wzDZA08Oeu_5jbRoiXSsAnMjIe/s400/Fishmonger-and-Fish" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620932928770588530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px; " /></span></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-90552623872457481812011-05-12T15:47:00.000+01:002011-05-13T21:54:28.014+01:00Taking Flight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOB6YnB-GlEQlJWzGPLiwKw4xXbNmA6nv2rc8ORLK-ccUYP75m0IPpO_P6uZpmX73g-qKD9eWBsy3Vm2SXwY5CdpbK6Otr-q4ACjOsORbsgTzRHfik1VdaE6nd6gpXhsl9Mb5wqPCMtlT/s1600/Taking_Flight_Owl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOB6YnB-GlEQlJWzGPLiwKw4xXbNmA6nv2rc8ORLK-ccUYP75m0IPpO_P6uZpmX73g-qKD9eWBsy3Vm2SXwY5CdpbK6Otr-q4ACjOsORbsgTzRHfik1VdaE6nd6gpXhsl9Mb5wqPCMtlT/s400/Taking_Flight_Owl.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605841823437355570" /></a><br /><div>A whirlwind project, largely done in a week but very pleased. We had two shows last weekend and really full, warm houses. In fact, word travelled very quickly after the first show and the second show was crazy full. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3EtjRzqDMGuXDFgpgj0VXBcMDa0J28mGz1AfJ0ek1Y1L0bVChkqNgkLdaWA87gljt-s0H7CQGxdJSPfX8A-jjHgvniOKCHXHTuRHIz9Hv88opyVpOlBDB9wsDTJxfygh7-ejB17T-5uR/s400/Taking_Flight_Suitcases.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605841810036235666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>We started the show outside with some ensemble movement by the cast led by Gil Burns. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeHI3_PIK5fe9fd6-4Oh0Ct5TXe7c791bl5pFrHavTfwm9hc7mF_pLrBZNXXm7WPwttkUQx8LCtIcaVodmIVy9gabEfZygHiaIOdtJF23FL7FPWT5ictlwARJ3TpkDc7VZ6619sA195_c/s1600/Taking_Flight_Thai_Dancer.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeHI3_PIK5fe9fd6-4Oh0Ct5TXe7c791bl5pFrHavTfwm9hc7mF_pLrBZNXXm7WPwttkUQx8LCtIcaVodmIVy9gabEfZygHiaIOdtJF23FL7FPWT5ictlwARJ3TpkDc7VZ6619sA195_c/s400/Taking_Flight_Thai_Dancer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605841818013667602" /></a><br /></div><div>Inside, we had a lovely collection of songs, poems, stories and movement pieces all nicely woven together with fantastic music by Kathy Kim, Daniel Bath, Razwan Sarwar and Barka, a children's choir who sings in English and Polish. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLcI7G87w9QDzQvk4WRPbr_TYbP89ep95ydgGeDp-7UJmHItCJeIypoCrAJHw5KS9reKq0rdH6DE4mCgSRAHVE8_Q42KoJWOGiCSxUsQxfXqYe0ZEOW_k3LzEGDf8KPkyyIKQSJLcpf1A/s1600/Taking_Flight_Shadow_Puppets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLcI7G87w9QDzQvk4WRPbr_TYbP89ep95ydgGeDp-7UJmHItCJeIypoCrAJHw5KS9reKq0rdH6DE4mCgSRAHVE8_Q42KoJWOGiCSxUsQxfXqYe0ZEOW_k3LzEGDf8KPkyyIKQSJLcpf1A/s400/Taking_Flight_Shadow_Puppets.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605841812207042898" /></a><br /></div><div>And, of course some puppetry such as this shadow show, a lantern owl and the <a href="http://www.thingumajig.info/creatures/sun_birds/index.html">Sun Birds</a>. See the set of photos <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.213378985352914.62471.202019956488817">HERE</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was our first project in Todmorden, our home town. I was very pleased to be able to put something which, on the one had is clearly our artistic and organisational work but is also very clearly of and for the local community. Hebden Bridge has the <a href="http://www.handmadeparade.co.uk/">Handmade Parade</a>; now Todmorden has "Taking Flight"--not such a bad way to pass the time. And it's fantastic to be able to find a way to offer our work to the community on our own terms. </div><div><br /></div><div>Who knows what will happen but I think everyone seemed very pleased with the show so I'm sure we'll start talking about another show or other ways to bring puppet pageantry to Todmorden. Watch this space. </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3EtjRzqDMGuXDFgpgj0VXBcMDa0J28mGz1AfJ0ek1Y1L0bVChkqNgkLdaWA87gljt-s0H7CQGxdJSPfX8A-jjHgvniOKCHXHTuRHIz9Hv88opyVpOlBDB9wsDTJxfygh7-ejB17T-5uR/s1600/Taking_Flight_Suitcases.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GDgeft-UrhNbnrDFE7AKa6gq311up1P5o9P_tYiTAGwx0wnWH9XXhWvCCMKNoTTjfSalcqp7xiPYR7cHwNgtO3Oh9OxDVdO62u3VEmSXQKRymhgLEcS-oqALxxvdzMnf1qFCRI35N6WO/s1600/Taking_Flight_Sunbirds.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GDgeft-UrhNbnrDFE7AKa6gq311up1P5o9P_tYiTAGwx0wnWH9XXhWvCCMKNoTTjfSalcqp7xiPYR7cHwNgtO3Oh9OxDVdO62u3VEmSXQKRymhgLEcS-oqALxxvdzMnf1qFCRI35N6WO/s400/Taking_Flight_Sunbirds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605841809809219346" /></a><br /></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-4860665278589359392011-05-06T09:14:00.002+01:002011-05-06T09:18:21.048+01:00Taking Flight--Tonight<a href="http://www.thingumajig.info/plays/flight/images/Suitcases.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 268px;" src="http://www.thingumajig.info/plays/flight/images/Suitcases.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>No time to blog! We've been working like mad on this community show in Todmorden, our home town. It's been fantastic working with and getting to know local artists. I think it's coming along amazingly well considering that 80% of it came together in one week! </div><div><br /></div><div>Photos and results posted soon but now I have a very long list to attend to...</div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-16353781649633892122011-04-08T21:44:00.008+01:002011-04-08T22:27:59.344+01:00Race Dog Showreel<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="500" height="311" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZcSmosxnwBE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a showreel of the indoor/outdoor mask play I directed last year for <a href="http://thalia1.dk/english/index.html">Theatret Thalias Tjenere</a>. </div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-48009128394205020972011-04-04T18:30:00.003+01:002011-04-04T18:49:06.059+01:00Kelda at Church Farm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SN2J6a2o1Jg0aVLwpdQxKn6si2YR8osiN4xrSjXQ6vvaW-b8j02O4ofFZGhTvozokTvwpQz8zZl8CCNDxtYzL-ZKbkNSlYE9ZPHbvjGNUW6itbPuNDsWLosvKXdtKykXu7xW-tLo98GC/s1600/Kelda_Meets_Chick.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SN2J6a2o1Jg0aVLwpdQxKn6si2YR8osiN4xrSjXQ6vvaW-b8j02O4ofFZGhTvozokTvwpQz8zZl8CCNDxtYzL-ZKbkNSlYE9ZPHbvjGNUW6itbPuNDsWLosvKXdtKykXu7xW-tLo98GC/s400/Kelda_Meets_Chick.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591782395719428770" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.thingumajig.info/creatures/kelda/index.html">Kelda</a> and her companions had another fantastic weekend on the Wirral. She was at <a href="http://www.churchfarm.org.uk/">Church Farm</a> which is a working farm which has diversified to be a farm shop, cafe and attraction for families to meet farm animals and learn about planting and such. We were there Sat and Sun and each outing had a different focus: smaller animals, learn to plant, and trail walk to meet the bigger animals. </div><div><br /></div><div>They arranged to have some chick born a couple of days before we arrived. It was amazing to see these perfectly formed little birds which Kelda had to very, very gently stroke. And Kelda got feed the goats and the sheep from her hands. This is one of the best things I've ever done as a puppeteer! Though a lot more difficult than it appears. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEq87KQuzOdCHs33Mabg0KezIQx5Zyn0MNQErIf2oir2PT1NDFa3u-IvsJ4lUBaKjGHT0LdhrigKDfAgC40H8iToOwHZU5nmJmN8zpekJ68rRC_TamZp9hVTcW0SGi5YUJJCgOazFFqU-4/s1600/Kelda_Feeds_Goats.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEq87KQuzOdCHs33Mabg0KezIQx5Zyn0MNQErIf2oir2PT1NDFa3u-IvsJ4lUBaKjGHT0LdhrigKDfAgC40H8iToOwHZU5nmJmN8zpekJ68rRC_TamZp9hVTcW0SGi5YUJJCgOazFFqU-4/s400/Kelda_Feeds_Goats.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591782386032182082" /></a><br /></div><div>Church Farm is a wonderful open environment with a great staff who really believe in what they're doing. I loved all of the hens walking all over the grounds. There were several who seemed to love hanging around our van where Panchan, our dog, was doing time. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimM0B5OjFHIkeXawhLjzFcPze5oMjNp5hSlYwYm8iQ-NhfmGQbqxabJlV-OE_GNW08H5c4quAvKFWULXz_EKOAQ48O_BoXase4TNEuE4Zwd89ZvZRqfRQLkN_LLp05DE2-9XGqwGUfaIQ1/s1600/IMAG0353.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimM0B5OjFHIkeXawhLjzFcPze5oMjNp5hSlYwYm8iQ-NhfmGQbqxabJlV-OE_GNW08H5c4quAvKFWULXz_EKOAQ48O_BoXase4TNEuE4Zwd89ZvZRqfRQLkN_LLp05DE2-9XGqwGUfaIQ1/s400/IMAG0353.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591782380376228578" /></a><br /></div><div>We spent the night there saving us a couple of drives and giving us the opportunity to go on two great walks on parts of the Wirral Way--a former railway line now lovingly used walking/biking/horse riding path--and along the beach. In this photo below, we're looking across the Dee Estuary at Wales, where it seems is the pot of gold. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNcuKLPGkyk0-eY39KJ3r8zqXdEvs4iAStfpYyJl9oWZo70rhlgi0Jzj4seemvxILDZh1mvaLPHDPubESMGJuqNt81-5PW_YtZg4Hmrfa4r6BE4oTZ79TVihOq_enZa3evwEixhDK6v4L/s1600/Rainbow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNcuKLPGkyk0-eY39KJ3r8zqXdEvs4iAStfpYyJl9oWZo70rhlgi0Jzj4seemvxILDZh1mvaLPHDPubESMGJuqNt81-5PW_YtZg4Hmrfa4r6BE4oTZ79TVihOq_enZa3evwEixhDK6v4L/s400/Rainbow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591782376301277090" /></a><br /></div><div>Sure I love our work but I especially love our work when it takes us to beautiful places and opens up surprising experiences. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TFO2FTIAThEGdrgeA0J_gewZsaHhbFt3WUWzm0k_g0jXC3l8v1W4jT8-5PdxGI4C3F4LFITrJZNAb_iltuhxh1SQp4oKG3cQswT0gTi15lnW-HsokSEEno1G5NegmgHu_QbuVj0ngDei/s1600/Horses.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TFO2FTIAThEGdrgeA0J_gewZsaHhbFt3WUWzm0k_g0jXC3l8v1W4jT8-5PdxGI4C3F4LFITrJZNAb_iltuhxh1SQp4oKG3cQswT0gTi15lnW-HsokSEEno1G5NegmgHu_QbuVj0ngDei/s400/Horses.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591782370783967858" /></a><br /></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-83734789238714817622011-03-28T18:50:00.003+01:002011-03-28T19:21:01.483+01:00Kelda at Birkenhead Park<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNP8VvmCk9Bbh3iQw4u2i2xYIV5RU95xhC5PKQoNkuZFK2GHJa0wdij6xYfqamaKTQio5oh1T9TvB1vCtdOjYZogKlptEhXeIZh2INlfcvEfAvT7vHcrlbM73aidKc8fUi5LVAUgOX0Dch/s1600/Kelda_Swiss_Bridge.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNP8VvmCk9Bbh3iQw4u2i2xYIV5RU95xhC5PKQoNkuZFK2GHJa0wdij6xYfqamaKTQio5oh1T9TvB1vCtdOjYZogKlptEhXeIZh2INlfcvEfAvT7vHcrlbM73aidKc8fUi5LVAUgOX0Dch/s400/Kelda_Swiss_Bridge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589190114303440450" /></a><br /><div>We had a fantastic time at Birkenhead Park last weekend with <a href="http://www.thingumajig.info/creatures/kelda/index.html">Kelda</a>. We were there for three days, three sets a day. Each set, we met a group, sometimes a school group, sometimes general public and a park ranger who showed us around the main attractions of the park. Kelda and her companions were special guest who wanted to learn more about the park. It worked just as we had hoped: the puppet drew crowds and the tour gave them a chance to show off what's great about the park. I didn't know that it was the first public park in the world and it was the inspiration for much of Central Park in NYC. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvLbZMltENYNVejqwhFWVBgoWxsZoGotQiQir_d01o11wo9evNvkaya79W9a8l-im_2_fp0VA1G6YJPol3aVjjueYSFU7EgxF2g5_HNTEeLu47r_0y2llErvV_XDhlO60B2n12BUqlo_5/s1600/Kelda_hands.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvLbZMltENYNVejqwhFWVBgoWxsZoGotQiQir_d01o11wo9evNvkaya79W9a8l-im_2_fp0VA1G6YJPol3aVjjueYSFU7EgxF2g5_HNTEeLu47r_0y2llErvV_XDhlO60B2n12BUqlo_5/s400/Kelda_hands.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589190104692384418" /></a><br /></div><div>When we first met the groups, we did our Kelda song by way of introduction and at the end of the tour, as a way to thank everyone for telling her about the park, Kelda taught the kids and adults (!) her special viking dance. People were so willing by the end of walk to play along--very satisfying.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEUzVt3lRtvNYxeqwClikkq5vLsIDnl1xHuEM8CDL8Lzj7GHY0TNeWt5qTB970K8D-dVp9oyl4GLjuIPYB106fO-ZiRjEXGLXIiHVYIeHd1zl4XMPK4dujdPW-6YGHPI_RjMi_2vYh2hyphenhyphen/s1600/Kelda_Teaches_Dance.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEUzVt3lRtvNYxeqwClikkq5vLsIDnl1xHuEM8CDL8Lzj7GHY0TNeWt5qTB970K8D-dVp9oyl4GLjuIPYB106fO-ZiRjEXGLXIiHVYIeHd1zl4XMPK4dujdPW-6YGHPI_RjMi_2vYh2hyphenhyphen/s400/Kelda_Teaches_Dance.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589190093884366530" /></a><br /></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-79906999876009244922011-03-21T11:15:00.003+00:002011-03-21T11:28:21.190+00:00Twitter!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfwKKNSn1haxabIC2R-_KCwcL81BX96Dimyj9u-mI4U8uRsMBF1e72X8bklatR_4HUNJHe_IWcV1k_Bl41os1s6BvewEZhVBOEi9sL2J1zDzZ-eFr1pBYB44cgCgHSUQnOv7QySxvFeyx/s1600/twitter.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 60px; height: 60px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfwKKNSn1haxabIC2R-_KCwcL81BX96Dimyj9u-mI4U8uRsMBF1e72X8bklatR_4HUNJHe_IWcV1k_Bl41os1s6BvewEZhVBOEi9sL2J1zDzZ-eFr1pBYB44cgCgHSUQnOv7QySxvFeyx/s400/twitter.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586490819280220530" /></a>Okay, after avoiding it as long as possible, I've given in to Twitter. After having a good look as some of the folks using it, I realised that there are a lot of art centre, festivals, theatres and artists updating what their doing up to. I suppose Thingumajig and Handmade Parade really needs to be in on that action.<div><br /></div><div>So if you twitter, follow Thingumajig Theatre <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ThingumaTheatre">@ThingumaTheatre</a></div><div>and follow Handmade Parade <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/hebdenparade">@hebdenparade</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-69210728554728587662011-03-20T10:18:00.004+00:002011-03-21T11:14:59.055+00:00US Tour<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6PdP9HZY3UF4RSub8tK8AQnJzxMfpZWu-0mJFBiSbdTviADk84iZDn6viTk8Y7tGpTWIErLF3McZ-unrrtyIU1jPzLLDeT4pz1mVtUdXkwToekSFuQ0vmkSABSVHT9DMhPemIMzLGNwC/s1600/IMAG0224.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 399px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6PdP9HZY3UF4RSub8tK8AQnJzxMfpZWu-0mJFBiSbdTviADk84iZDn6viTk8Y7tGpTWIErLF3McZ-unrrtyIU1jPzLLDeT4pz1mVtUdXkwToekSFuQ0vmkSABSVHT9DMhPemIMzLGNwC/s400/IMAG0224.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586478048884742978" /></a></div>
<br /><div>We're back and on the road to recovery after a fantastic month-long whirlwind tour of the USA with "<a href="http://www.thingumajig.info/plays/november/index.html">A November Day</a>". We were invited by the <a href="http://www.puppet.org/">Center for Puppetry Arts</a> in Atlanta for a week-long run. As they were shipping our show to the states, we took it as an opportunity to play a few other stops. And to visit all of my family in California and Chicago. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>As we made this show for a UK audience, we didn't know how a US audience would receive this. As it turns out, we had nothing to worry about--we had great audiences and terrific responses. In some ways, I think the show went over better there than here. But this could be just that American audiences are more forward with their responses. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>In Atlanta, we played 9 shows, some for schools, some for the public. We also had this fantastic <a href="http://www.artscriticatl.com/2011/02/review-the-great-war-and-old-souls-in-a-november-day-at-center-for-puppetry-arts/">review</a>! The Center is an amazing place filled with so much amazing puppet enthusiasm. They have the uncanny ability to attract and keep nice people who are very good at what they do and LOVE puppet theatre. So pleased our second show there was as successful as the first--we look forward to the next time!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEBeK3hNSdH6kjccDayhuuOdl_kZffPPobAwUHP8_OJ7tlD3abjbR3Q1TknarC67-dmd8nZw_m4X-JmdFlOVMBe8RxzNUrJk2Gt_7W6I-n9NxxURTJ2vGKcBWBQjG-s37nm494FXhodDc/s400/IMG_2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586478041365177442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 252px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div>After a drive-by visit to Graceland, our next stop on the tour was Fayetteville, Arkansas where our good friend, George Meyer teamed up with puppeteer and Art Therapist <a href="http://www.joannkaminsky.com/">JoAnn Kaminsky</a> to hire a hall for us to play in. As they don't have a whole lot of professional puppetry there, our visit really became an organising focus to bring together people who want more to happen there.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3_z4qh7oP061Xt61oSo7s5Bw5RruOpAxEdbWIhvYZKmwV63onL8mhjjY36ehBWrYS21ION7Kzr1LbztxfPJXgZgmxdT1vh7o7AvcnzGBoMRYXLe9nxFJcKbekzInq0sJVWZsVLhIWcLM/s400/IMG_2548.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586484148940537410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 133px; " /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>We got stay at George's farm in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He lives in an tiny chapel which he bought and moved onto a beautiful stretch of land with a stream on it. I've never seen so many cardinals--5 on one tree! He just built a huge barn for his puppets. Plenty of room to build, store and rehearse lots of shows. Can't think of a more beautiful place to papier mache. We're hoping we can come by sometime in the future and help with a pageant or a parade. </div><div>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX8IoodRiZqUfTB3SSc6KdAQxDnB68Aibq5Em0_3jzdi6p9lg5bxB-1dfiuDpiBzPgFxawNkAayZpv0GDL3MPy1zysb9xkzUf7tRf8IiTeRjqA1OxthRGwn4cALO_0di2lHN_BkGSNRhP/s1600/IMG_2561.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX8IoodRiZqUfTB3SSc6KdAQxDnB68Aibq5Em0_3jzdi6p9lg5bxB-1dfiuDpiBzPgFxawNkAayZpv0GDL3MPy1zysb9xkzUf7tRf8IiTeRjqA1OxthRGwn4cALO_0di2lHN_BkGSNRhP/s400/IMG_2561.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586478045668559074" /></a>
<br /></div><div>Our third and final stop on the tour was in Minneapolis at the <a href="http://www.openeyetheatre.org/">Open Eye Figure Theatre</a>. It's a fantastic theatre build into a store front. They also have workshop space and office downstairs. It such a fantastic, bespoke space for their puppet work. It reminded us of our visit to <a href="http://www.sandglasstheater.org/">Sandglass Theater's</a> theatre/workshop barn in Vermont. Something to aspire to for Thingumajig....</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Minneapolis is where I started as a puppeteer and where I spent nearly 10 years. So we were a little nervous to perform to old friends and colleagues. But of course they were some of the most supportive audiences we've ever had. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>It was the longest run of the show (15 performances) since we did our first tour of it in 2008 which felt great. We found all sorts of new business and tighter timing and more heart to the piece than ever. It's back in our workshop but we'll look forward to the next time we do the show--either in Dublin at their Puppet Festival in October or at the Norwich Puppet Theatre in November. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEBeK3hNSdH6kjccDayhuuOdl_kZffPPobAwUHP8_OJ7tlD3abjbR3Q1TknarC67-dmd8nZw_m4X-JmdFlOVMBe8RxzNUrJk2Gt_7W6I-n9NxxURTJ2vGKcBWBQjG-s37nm494FXhodDc/s1600/IMG_2529.jpg"></a></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-67228820495948195982011-02-12T23:40:00.003+00:002011-02-12T23:55:12.410+00:00Kelda<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObkwPVd2EEZCbIZC7ie4qbNNbKXCpXuRynUiWvMYlH7KrQOdziauDmgP4PiaUqgLRfSZSbkENTJXI_sE7U4xiEnVrLtHwirUTmFgtR8bw9-YpsH-wSDAYbbLSIZuttTU3GcI0bkALh_Rv/s1600/Kelda_and_Guides.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObkwPVd2EEZCbIZC7ie4qbNNbKXCpXuRynUiWvMYlH7KrQOdziauDmgP4PiaUqgLRfSZSbkENTJXI_sE7U4xiEnVrLtHwirUTmFgtR8bw9-YpsH-wSDAYbbLSIZuttTU3GcI0bkALh_Rv/s400/Kelda_and_Guides.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572952974400872290" /></a><br /><div>It's been ages since I blogged! For a couple of month, there wasn't much going on but then January hit and we were full on. Here's one of the projects we've been crazy with...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuR3X4OKWDN0sXgWarGebjwJ7d_ea5ytAqzqNnwcMwwBp67w6RaGh_oXtJtir1izYH_olIyd_WFIaKGyUxtaS-eqmYZCflTZbIExS7WiU3qKsSnTvLaEsSijNniRdVI06Y96thNy1c6ZD/s1600/Kelda_Close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuR3X4OKWDN0sXgWarGebjwJ7d_ea5ytAqzqNnwcMwwBp67w6RaGh_oXtJtir1izYH_olIyd_WFIaKGyUxtaS-eqmYZCflTZbIExS7WiU3qKsSnTvLaEsSijNniRdVI06Y96thNy1c6ZD/s400/Kelda_Close.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572952974524420690" /></a><br /></div><div>This is Kelda, a Viking girl who once lived on the Wirral. She is a giant puppet accompanied by two very keen guides who are professor and archeologist/adventurer. They will be on a tour of 8 different cultural attractions on the Wirral starting next weekend. </div><div><br /></div><div>She was co-commissioned by Wild in Art and Liverpool Lantern Company for <a href="http://www.liverpooldiscovers.co.uk/2011/01/wirral-kelda-discovers-the-wirral/">Liverpool Discovers</a>. </div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c3WJZPL6AW8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=283633&id=628699839&l=0282865172">gallery</a> which include process shots.</div><div>Here's <a href="http://www.thingumajig.info/creatures/kelda/index.html">her page</a> on our website. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuB47I_NAP5BLWfLtCTd_wqgfzYrsYyjQRlY7LHnLumjg9xykLQrpjN63GF2YX_Sjl9JVIYxqX3SWLs6R7WSTlg8Om8McGOu_p5pSd1C7I39CubDTO9GmoCSIx7NSusgEbNS3aDSzyO8i/s1600/Kelda_Liverpool.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuB47I_NAP5BLWfLtCTd_wqgfzYrsYyjQRlY7LHnLumjg9xykLQrpjN63GF2YX_Sjl9JVIYxqX3SWLs6R7WSTlg8Om8McGOu_p5pSd1C7I39CubDTO9GmoCSIx7NSusgEbNS3aDSzyO8i/s400/Kelda_Liverpool.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572952971106788642" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-39995430704462627082010-11-09T20:04:00.003+00:002010-11-09T20:12:08.117+00:00More Halloween<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vtvtUnWkOyPDEZcdBgljpv5c51OxJ0znKDSyOUuxzL5lIB_deaqf310Hwld9W6g3pZfj24qRstIlRq34qHUJ2TZlOWctLMsZR5XyoivR4xKQE9FoPpaLZVzKEvIzyQTQT0MKID5A6nH-/s1600/MRL_3237.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vtvtUnWkOyPDEZcdBgljpv5c51OxJ0znKDSyOUuxzL5lIB_deaqf310Hwld9W6g3pZfj24qRstIlRq34qHUJ2TZlOWctLMsZR5XyoivR4xKQE9FoPpaLZVzKEvIzyQTQT0MKID5A6nH-/s400/MRL_3237.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537645012368989730" /></a>Here are some fantastic photos by Mark Loudon <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meretrician/LiverpoolLanternCarnival2010#">HERE</a>.<br />And a video <a href="http://www.liverpoollanterncompany.co.uk/work.htm#halloween2010video">HERE</a>.Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-90277448179398798382010-11-02T13:52:00.003+00:002010-11-02T17:25:14.907+00:002010 Liverpool Halloween Lantern Carnival<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr7hjDZ0TplbRJI07l2DIniCPyjLamOmtJUg-Wom1jrfenYJF0lR7JNfBM-BNen51seeUU6XgURUVBeTgXFGKeOaxFv1WX9_kM2s9fP8s8Wllt8zdfPXjuYKAbKq8HNoVpsgdcvneU0Sd/s1600/Ferry.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAr7hjDZ0TplbRJI07l2DIniCPyjLamOmtJUg-Wom1jrfenYJF0lR7JNfBM-BNen51seeUU6XgURUVBeTgXFGKeOaxFv1WX9_kM2s9fP8s8Wllt8zdfPXjuYKAbKq8HNoVpsgdcvneU0Sd/s400/Ferry.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534999120580808722" /></a><br /><div>Just coming back into everyday life after the mad rush of the Liverpool Halloween event. I repeated my role as performance director where I worked with about 150 performers--theatre students, dance students, a choir, puppeteers and actors--to create briefs and coordinate the performances for the evening. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a lot to keep on top of but having done this for my fourth year, I've learned how to work with the different groups and artists and learned what is effective in the park, in the dark, with such crowds of about 10,000. </div><div><br /></div><div>The weather was perfect, the crowds were very generous and all the performances went like clockwork. It was magic. The theme of the ferry woman and the ferry terminal to the other side created a great setting for some really beautiful poetic images: I especially loved the boat crossing where a giant puppet ferried 12 performers with illuminated suitcases, one at a time, across the lake during which time they took off their garments to reveal their skeleton underneath. But also we had some really fun business: skeleton boarder control, skeleton security (make sure no one was smuggling living matter to the other side), and devil vendors trying to sell goods for the journey to hell (water, cool packs, fans, oven mitts). </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a <a href="http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/multimedia/news/latest-news/images/2010/10/31/crowds-watch-liverpool-s-halloween-lantern-carnival-in-aigburth-s-sefton-park-100252-27577463/">link to a photo set</a> from the local paper and some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=liverpool+lantern+festival+2010&s=rec">flickr sets</a>. I'll post more links as they are available. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7G-eulbwB012LYNH1PdZJONFyaSasBw4xpOF6Uk4scOHtv8qE-mtDvrEz7V8QufYfs_eSyENt7fHFJQY_OOaiAmDM73R6nvntDQhGHZ-bjxHzKA-YahvuGJeirAACCEv0LYMZl5XNGEJE/s1600/Ferry-Firework.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7G-eulbwB012LYNH1PdZJONFyaSasBw4xpOF6Uk4scOHtv8qE-mtDvrEz7V8QufYfs_eSyENt7fHFJQY_OOaiAmDM73R6nvntDQhGHZ-bjxHzKA-YahvuGJeirAACCEv0LYMZl5XNGEJE/s400/Ferry-Firework.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534999113742250114" /></a><br /></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-25354533432989025622010-09-05T18:31:00.006+01:002010-09-07T08:22:43.521+01:00PIP Workshop--First Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAbBeZ1S77nzo8EswEjBn5B_633VOA9lvNuXRaE_DS1UD8w5EzpPCl0sMceRkVyHeLKrNfMWVFPisZlMbt1i11eEDzr9LOLBqwcUi5BJaYI1aAbvNt_LbC9NqVGP5IOXLAkVUF1MWrm8x/s1600/PIP.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAbBeZ1S77nzo8EswEjBn5B_633VOA9lvNuXRaE_DS1UD8w5EzpPCl0sMceRkVyHeLKrNfMWVFPisZlMbt1i11eEDzr9LOLBqwcUi5BJaYI1aAbvNt_LbC9NqVGP5IOXLAkVUF1MWrm8x/s400/PIP.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513486022363912722" /></a><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">J<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ust finished the first week of the puppetry performance course with Frank Soehnle</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. What a lot to absorb. In our course, besides the teacher are three Germans, three Italians, one French and me (American from England?). Once again, although it’s no one’s native tongue besides mine, English is the common language. There's a wide range of experience, some completely new to puppets, some very experienced string puppeteers. I'm comfortably in the middle somewhere.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The course is all about string puppets--how to perform them, make them and a little bit about why and when to use them. We will be creating a new piece for the Incanti Festival. It’s good puppet playing although I have to admit, at first, I was slightly intimidated as I've never really worked with string puppets before. But Frank has been really good about creating a safe and open space where he is helping each person on his/her own level.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span></span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlWq3jaXiqfusYlTppNUxgseg8ZVrpu8o2RtVea1tG4vyWmgBBEZ0Lx8BcXoSYtunkK4cLbPTCKv926CWYCcvLkprqV6zXdIfeFWvZzvmhjdgQ0YlFb7-4WyXHB5GFxIdBlcV-hyWrW0q/s400/Frank.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513486013021147906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px; " /></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">This is the adventure. Here I am at a place where no one knows me with a task I don’t know how to do. And to some extent, unlike all the other tasks I do for work, it doesn’t matter if excel or it I am slightly below average. I can take risks. Like a good puppet, I start at a neutral zero. I breathe in, shift my weight, start the pendulum and go forward.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Each evening, we have a five course meal. It’s an absolutely overwhelming amount of food. A starter, then the pasta, then the meat, then the salad, then dessert, and finally coffee. Which is espresso. This is my first big lesson here: you don’t have Capuccino or Cafe Latte after breakfast. I asked for a Capuccino after lunch, when coffee orders were taken, and the Italians couldn</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">’t believe it. It’s now a bit of running joke that I pretend to ask for a cappuccino at every meal. As I said, you take risks and then you learn.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJmMTkJ-vjKCupOZIY9PwqpuFX1FkVziq-cUuQ111bMq8kauqDT2tqAieqjD-EZbbVLHE-5Km2uO0hOp-Ys2XC4OxjuPAOlOJf5e9N5PhGhnWXktDk80tAU47-TFX39z_9sTMlVBccTcD/s1600/Pierot_Control.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJmMTkJ-vjKCupOZIY9PwqpuFX1FkVziq-cUuQ111bMq8kauqDT2tqAieqjD-EZbbVLHE-5Km2uO0hOp-Ys2XC4OxjuPAOlOJf5e9N5PhGhnWXktDk80tAU47-TFX39z_9sTMlVBccTcD/s400/Pierot_Control.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513486012453431490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here is a control made by Fritz Herbert Bross who is Frank's teacher's teacher. It's very different from the American and British controls I've seen but the movements seem so much smoother and more ergonomic. Frank brought a couple of old 1950's puppets which we can try. They have such incredible balance, especially this Pierrot seen below (next to my spider). I'm gaining in string puppet confidence each day. Who knows but I bet we'll see some string puppets in the next Thingumajig show.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUh2QkxitNVt4vhgsGjuRTFzNX9awc0ysHZKp-749yaGbcEd8zKltZU0KkkiKVQyPwiooJ6RkO9o6UdVZh3CGI5sDWlvX2qXHsD_25dk0yqkbXJxVjT7sLtoVUEgVvAOLjjWqqxzQMLwDW/s1600/spider_and_Pierot.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUh2QkxitNVt4vhgsGjuRTFzNX9awc0ysHZKp-749yaGbcEd8zKltZU0KkkiKVQyPwiooJ6RkO9o6UdVZh3CGI5sDWlvX2qXHsD_25dk0yqkbXJxVjT7sLtoVUEgVvAOLjjWqqxzQMLwDW/s400/spider_and_Pierot.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513486010821755970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-76876497674113037562010-08-28T20:38:00.002+01:002010-08-28T20:45:14.149+01:00Hippo Showreel<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14492074?byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" width="425" height="239" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Finished editing the showreel for "Hippochondriac". It was a gorgeous day, Halifax's Piece Hall provided a great backdrop and Clare Pearl really took stunning footage. It was a very pleasurable job. I'm pleased with how it seems to get the look of the piece as well a show a good range of the business and fun we have with it.</div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-34178950986947127532010-08-26T22:45:00.004+01:002010-08-27T14:36:09.549+01:00Spider Marionette<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyA6ynMBjFlyPZaf0QxImnKPJGtV6z581e4wILr5mtiw16yukznwPvBRSQdyfZaUNOlRHQJXSvRArKjF3z4kqab5hRcUDo3YlqPoULE3KMSd8_eQGSHasHi4umhyxBjKqk2o1JtrAMywOy/s1600/spider.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyA6ynMBjFlyPZaf0QxImnKPJGtV6z581e4wILr5mtiw16yukznwPvBRSQdyfZaUNOlRHQJXSvRArKjF3z4kqab5hRcUDo3YlqPoULE3KMSd8_eQGSHasHi4umhyxBjKqk2o1JtrAMywOy/s400/spider.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509838218764834050" /></a><br /><div>For the next two weeks, I'll be in Turin, Italy taking a <a href="http://www.festivalincanti.it/">masterclass</a> with <a href="http://www.figurentheater-tuebingen.de/#en/about%20us.html">Frank Soehnle</a>. The one requirement is that we bring a string puppet we made. I don't really use marionettes and so didn't have one I could bring so I had to make one from scratch. I had a bit of a play with various things and ended up drawn to these joints from an old piano which a friend of mine gave to me. They moved very much like insect legs so why not a spider.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwG5tkHWi7CdPYaWPyF4_SZffGRWYHGboXp2o2ASsK4ylhYowWW-zRyk3FDqQjlmq_TvjEj1MHAur6Q75XFAQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a real pleasure making something dictated completely by the form, function and movement of an object. The piano hinges wanted to be legs and the bell wanted to have something hitting it to make a sound. Who knows what the character will be or the story it wants to tell but here he is, let's see what it can do. </div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-40924068141775271702010-08-24T18:35:00.004+01:002010-08-28T20:45:54.050+01:00Frankenocchio<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dERwHAQTZeQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dERwHAQTZeQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>"<a href="http://briankooser.com/Frankenocchio.html">Frankenocchio</a>" a puppet play I directed and co-produced back in 2003, in my Seattle daze is back for another revival. Just ran into a clip of it on YouTube. They are still using the footage from the original version I directed for their publicity (though someone else gets direction credit which seems a little unfair). It runs 12 Aug to 4 Sept. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Race Dog", the mask play I directed for <a href="http://thalia1.dk/english/index.html">Theatret Thalias Tjenere</a> in Denmark, is still having it's summer run. This means on 2 Sept, two plays I directed will be playing on the same day, one in Denmark and one in USA. Not bad, eh?</div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-51392063079117753172010-08-10T10:05:00.003+01:002010-08-10T11:41:01.428+01:00Hippo Here, Hippo There<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3I4keFzJht3VLccq9MX4EkmqCX1t1ZFEaiIIUkX7SYDxRCmbEtGBiZUpRbwRXfQplsl6qsd7jZu_cu5nNwXAHz78E2t_kRaPrVYwo78UrrYfpnvYKqZkNouLdoABQ01I_tvSkK3apOEy/s1600/Hippo-Liverpool"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3I4keFzJht3VLccq9MX4EkmqCX1t1ZFEaiIIUkX7SYDxRCmbEtGBiZUpRbwRXfQplsl6qsd7jZu_cu5nNwXAHz78E2t_kRaPrVYwo78UrrYfpnvYKqZkNouLdoABQ01I_tvSkK3apOEy/s400/Hippo-Liverpool" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503707600639417314" /></a><br /><div>Just finished a fantastic busy week with "Hippochondriac." We were at the Lakes Alive puppet festival in Penrith last Sunday, at the Girl Guides Centenary event on Wednesday and playing three days at the On the Waterfront event in Liverpool over the weekend. Here's a nice report with some footage of the hippo on the BBC Cumbria website <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cumbria/hi/things_to_do/newsid_8876000/8876696.stm">HERE</a>. And we were part of a slideshow on the BBC Liverpool page <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/liverpool/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8899000/8899029.stm">HERE</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although the hippo had it's walkabout debut at the end of May and had it's puppet show debut in July, it wasn't really until this weekend in Liverpool where we felt we really knew how to perform it. It was so good for us to have a solid run of it (12 performances in one week!) to learn where to put the punches and where to hang back. As it's two of us performing, it's very important to know who's taking and giving focus. Also, with street crowds, we needed to learn how to make it very clear when it's a show and when it's an interactive walkabout. I'm sure it'll continue to evolve (at least four more outings this season) but we're feeling much more confident with it now. Also, we've had some fantastic responses from crowds, producers and fellow street performers. I think this hippo will keep us busy for some time to come. </div><div><br /></div><div>On a personal note, yesterday marks the end of a very busy and stressful stretch which started back in March. Between, building the hippo, moving house, MayDay Parade, Handmade Parade, building the hippo shows, and the giant fish commission, we've been busier and more stressed than we've ever been. So for the rest of August, while we have a much more sane work schedule, we're looking forward to finishing moving into our house, going for some long walks and other such pleasant, no pressure activities.</div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332965898270135282.post-41660418421273223952010-07-31T22:30:00.003+01:002010-07-31T23:12:33.387+01:00Trout!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MjR0Eotb-dgNiRXQItX4lObtMlXnsjyJxepyU0Ha-u1pbJ9Ukuz6hVDTXGkQnL06vvwVyucOG1KhsfG_Zf4_VgFmfdsgeHdpfspX9XhmWN97UkbBikYRZ78gpZHtpj5iq2UwH3mD4wZa/s1600/Trout.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MjR0Eotb-dgNiRXQItX4lObtMlXnsjyJxepyU0Ha-u1pbJ9Ukuz6hVDTXGkQnL06vvwVyucOG1KhsfG_Zf4_VgFmfdsgeHdpfspX9XhmWN97UkbBikYRZ78gpZHtpj5iq2UwH3mD4wZa/s400/Trout.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500186323919590482" /></a><br /><div>The trout are done! After a very intense build (after several very intense projects one right after another) our three giant fish commissioned by the Stockton International Riverside Festival Carnival had their maiden voyage today. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpXQeh5SjDiYPHmjPLm1JMCC41w6CV_3jGKjExdTjG7oTceZw6cEpnVbG6XOAnL3OFFn32NAvRRi1kIilffrURqbf82YtXnlrvO6WAihMO__QuH8-tzPXKqWPbPC-uYGJz4-2N1qs5edj/s1600/Trout_Circle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpXQeh5SjDiYPHmjPLm1JMCC41w6CV_3jGKjExdTjG7oTceZw6cEpnVbG6XOAnL3OFFn32NAvRRi1kIilffrURqbf82YtXnlrvO6WAihMO__QuH8-tzPXKqWPbPC-uYGJz4-2N1qs5edj/s400/Trout_Circle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500186316189682626" /></a><br /></div><div>All the bits fit, looked good, moved nicely and the weather held--it's been a good day for Thingumajig Theatre. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyg_QBefjrIJZFAB47cX9Mm56z2fcIYoLSeVMw9GPOXgCGGZZV5-CziQco4AdU0Cyb910-fPrZAWUOGziOt0g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br />I've posted more photos, including process shots <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=193639&id=628699839&l=83197c1963">HERE</a>. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj67IesUZZSoAhCv92x1nA4WwkNs2SKs_BL44XeASqMsJHPXaq50Jg3HBrHHU_2FCHzb4gBE_6EcrYDe-nJE7x01UWrgnlhfrO66wIyLaxAj-zr1r1F6Q_VRnS1uONEd2lE4iOO7Jn9sJ/s1600/Trout_Front.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwj67IesUZZSoAhCv92x1nA4WwkNs2SKs_BL44XeASqMsJHPXaq50Jg3HBrHHU_2FCHzb4gBE_6EcrYDe-nJE7x01UWrgnlhfrO66wIyLaxAj-zr1r1F6Q_VRnS1uONEd2lE4iOO7Jn9sJ/s400/Trout_Front.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500186313212102674" /></a><br />It was a fairly straight-forward, two-pole puppet design but working on this scale, we discovered quite a few useful techniques such as making good harnesses (based on a samba drum harness), painting with fabric dyes and a more secure way to trust bolt holes in bamboo. In the end, some very satisfying puppets, which, as it was a commission, K and I were both a bit said to leave them and drive home with an empty van. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDAAAgoqgicGu1YZFQdje_rcE3CnK7iqabb7aLhDtbQGDls3r9PqsQ9-AnYkjVovW7s-Z5EJH18qOywHVV9OwHJEuw2jGXy4Zek2SO_wEztagYI98l2-Z3ZptQCWMo5LpMbipt4_Hl_Gx/s1600/Trout-at-Rest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDAAAgoqgicGu1YZFQdje_rcE3CnK7iqabb7aLhDtbQGDls3r9PqsQ9-AnYkjVovW7s-Z5EJH18qOywHVV9OwHJEuw2jGXy4Zek2SO_wEztagYI98l2-Z3ZptQCWMo5LpMbipt4_Hl_Gx/s400/Trout-at-Rest.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500186307955632194" /></a><br /></div>Andrew Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986685334509838659noreply@blogger.com0