Toy Theatre Festival Begins this Week!

Tess Elliott:  Our Intrepid Reporter!

The Great Small Works 10th International Toy Theatre Festival begins this weekend on June 14th, and runs through June 23rd.

There are many readers of this blog that cannot attend in person, but would greatly enjoy hearing about the various performances and events.

I am very pleased to say that once again, Tess Elliott will be covering the festival for this blog, for which I'm very grateful.

So check back this weekend - and throughout the festival - for posts from the festival by the very talented Tess!

Chomick & Meder

Interview with the great Chomick and Meder!

See photos of the exhibition mentioned (ongoing through June 8th) here...

Doctor Puppet!

This combines two of my great loves - Puppetry/toy theatre, and Doctor Who! This animated Doctor was created by the talented Alisa Stern. You can see more of Alisa's work on her YouTube channel...

Ye Ballade of Ivan Petrofsky Skevar

A Karaghoz inspired shadow show adapted from the popular song by Percy French circa 1850, presented by Puppet Heap!

Teacup Footlights

Fun toy theatre influenced images from an Alice in Wonderland production at the Royal Opera House...

A Visit to Pollock's Toy Shop

The theatre on the counter is described by staff as "...German with scenery by Scholz"

"We don't like minimal at Pollock's"

So writes the toy shop on their Facebook page today.  The above photograph was taken this week showing their updated lobby and some of the many fun toys, books, and theatres they sell.

I laughed at that, because it's so true!  But it's also why their shop is so magical.  Although I have never had the privilege to visit yet, I know it would delight me no end.  I like to think of it as the best toy shop in the world...

GSW 10th International - Update #1

The Great Small Works 10th International Toy Theater Festival is only a little over a month away!

The venue - St. Anne's Warehouse - has a page with all the information concerning tickets, location, etc.

Also, GSW has put up a helpful (and comprehensive) Schedule.

Be sure to check them out!

Last, but not least, there's only 11 days left for you to part of supporting the festival!  Please visit the festival's fundraiser campaign page and see how you can help, and for a list of the wonderful "thank you" gifts they offer...

International Puppetry Museum

A wonderful photo gallery has been put up on line in celebration of  Alan Cook and the International Puppetry Museum in Pasadena, California.

Despite a wonderful renaissance in puppetry in recent years, there continues to be a struggle to support important institutions like this museum, that not only serve as archival and historical repositories, but as an educational tool for the public.

I encourage all who read this to consider supporting IPM.  There are many ways they offer to do this.

Toy Theatre Festival Benefit Gala

Great Small Works invites you to join your friends and supporters of Great Small Works at the GALA TOY THEATER FESTIVAL BENEFIT on Thursday, May 23rd, at the powerHouse Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn, to support Great Small Works' TENTH INTERNATIONAL TOY THEATER FESTIVAL, June 14-23 at St. Ann's Warehouse.

The guest performers at this not-to-be-missed event include master puppeteer BASIL TWIST, toy piano virtuoso MARGARET LENG TAN and the inimitable musician and composer RIMA FAND. The powerHouse Arena storefront will also be filled with an ongoing spectacle of intimate paper theater plays created and performed by LAKE SIMONS, ERIN ORR, CHRIS GREEN, TONI SCHLESINGER, ED VALENTINE, and other luminaries of the miniature theater world! Join us for an evening of sparkling wit, compelling ideas, and visions of the possibilities of puppetry and community for the 21st century! How could you not come?

To find out more details, visit the event site.

10th International Festival of Toy Theatre

Please take a moment to watch this video, then visit Great Small Works' fundraising site. They would appreciate contributions to help produce the 10th International Festival of Toy Theatre. Their past festivals have been amazing events, opening up the imagination and creativity of young and old alike!

Dramatis Personae Catalogue No. 112

Be sure and check out the current Dramatis Personae catalogue, which includes many toy theatre related items!

In the Heart of the Beast

Christmas Retold

Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theater artists bring alive the Nativity as an Immigrant Story...

In my own state of Minnesota here in America, an extraordinary production is underway right now of the age-old Nativity story.  But this version is told in an innovative style - using large-scale puppets and as an immigrant story.

Read, see, and hear more about this, here...


The video above, from a presentation of this same production in 2009, shows a bit of what you would see, as well as clips from behind the scenes...

Before Neverland

Before there was Neverland, there were the Gardens...

Crowd sourcing has begun for Peter Pan at Kensington Gardens.  The animated film, influenced by toy theatre, shares earlier stories of Peter Pan:

Peter's adventures in Kensington Gardens pre-date those in Neverland. First published in 1906 it's an adaptation of The little White Bird of 1902 which marked Peter Pan's first appearance in print. Peter is a baby who thinks he's a bird and so can fly. He finds himself in the Gardens and makes friends with the birds and fairies who live there. Peter learns to play Pan's pipes and looks after children who become lost in the park. The story predicts many of the elements to be found with Wendy and the Lost Boys...

Upcoming Special Performance

From the Benjamin Pollocks Toy Shop:  The poster for Peter Baldwin's toy theatre performance next Sunday - tickets still available - you can pay at the door but a reservation is advisable.

New Peter Pan Film

A new film is being made which combines the arts of toy theatre, animation, and film.  One of the producers, Steve Arnott, has this to say of a newly released demo trailer:

This is a work in progress, the voice and music are just guide tracks and more scenes will be added. We hope to use a famous Scottish voice for the narrator (so if anyone has David Tennant's email, please forward!) Also, we are open to any offers of funding; the film so far has over 200 supporters and 50 animators working on it. Anyone who contributes will share in the profits. Also, 20% will be going to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, who have given the project their blessing. We are are looking at a release date of either Christmas 2013 or Easter 2014, depending on how things proceed.

If you would like to know more, or help fund the project, please leave a comment, and I will be happy to put you in touch...

Sicilian Puppet Theatre

Pop-up: Circus

The shots below (pardon the flash reflections on some shots - the lighting conditions were less than ideal - are from a reproduction pop-up book published by Penguin Books in 1979. The book - Lothar Meggendorfer's "International Circus", first published in 1887 - also has the name of Rodney Peppe associated with it.

Dramatis Personae Catalogue No. 110

The new Dramatis Personae catalogue is out.

As usual, I highly recommend you give it a perusal - many toy theatre-related ephemera for sale, prices ranging from the humble to the expensive...

Victoria 4 Albert

A true love story, told in Victoria's own words...

A series of  films incorporating stop motion, toy theatre, etc. have recently released, entitled Victoria 4 Albert.  The films were commissioned to accompany an exhibition currently ongoing at Kensington Palace.  The narration on the films are Queen Victoria's own words, taken from her diaries.  Charming!

Boxcar Fair

A sweet, short story told with puppets and music, featuring automata and puppet maker, Tom Haney.

Top Hat Toy Theater Presents...

David Worobec, a Boston Conservatory student and creator/owner of Top Hat Toy Theater, is the man behind a recent series of adaptions of musicals for the small stage.  In the videos shared here, David performs Rogers & Hammerstein's South Pacific.  David does all the voices and sings all the parts in his production, quite a feat!  As one person recently put it, "David has a terrific operatic voice, and his one man show is definitely unique."

He has had a long love affair with toy theatre; David was a featured performer in Great Small Works' toy theatre festival back in 2003 when he was only 14 years old!

The Devil and Mr. Punch

This is NOT your Grandfather's Punch!

A collaboration between UK and US individuals and groups, performances are happening now at the Barbican;  US productions were performed in two locations last year -  Minneapolis in May, and Philadelphia in September; the production evolved as it went along.

Read more about the wonderful people behind the show, including a lovely interview with the director where he talks about the history of Punch.  Also, the Barbican's 'behind the scene' article, "That's the Way to Do it!"

While Punch is normally not performed as a toy theatre production, I have a weakness for the old scroundrel!  I did find at least one play for the small stage for him, by Langdale, however...

Dramatis Personae Catalogue 109

The latest Dramatis Personae catalogue is out!

As always, this amazing quarterly ephemera sale include several vintage juvenile drama-related items of the highest quality.

Several juvenile portraits are being offered, including one by Skelt (1836), two by Fairburn (1835 and 1838), and one by Jameson (1818).

Also in this sale, are some scene sheets, and a German book from 1915 about putting on toy theatre productions.

Please note that Dramatis Personae have a large inventory of items not necessarily in the sale itself.  Take a look at them; I found on a casual look through a few pages, for example, a penny plain portrait by Hodgson, c. 1827...

Poe-Dunk Matchbox Theatre

The mind boggles at the small scale!

Playlab NYC will present Poe-Dunk – A Matchbox Entertainment as a part of the 2012 FRIGID New York Festival.

Kevin performs a matchbox production

Kevin P. Hale, one of the founding members of Playlab NYC, is the creative mind behind these exceedingly small toy theatres.  Kevin has a blog where he explored openly shares his concepts and explorations - it makes pretty interesting reading!

Some characters are performed via matchsticks!

Kevin will be presenting a series of tiny-scaled plays based on the tales of Poe, including one called "The Oval Portrait":

The story was originally published as “Life in Death” and is the shortest of Poe’s stories. It was also the inspiration for Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. The actual story of the portrait only takes a single paragraph to tell, and everything else leading up it that story seems like filler. It was precisely because it was Poe's shortest work that I thought it would lend itself well to matchbox treatment.

Despite the tiny scale, color and design abound!

Doctor Parnassus Toy Theatre

I recently began watching the incredible film, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS. I did some research on the film, and lo and behold, someone has made a wee toy theatre kit based on the traveling theatred featured in the film!

Puppet Film Project

I encourage you to view the trailer, then support Andrew's film project, PuppetVision: The Movie.

Christmas Creativity

A scene from a recent toy theatre adaption of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol"...

This year, Macy's famous storefront displays are using a Steampunk theme for Christmas, with puppets!

Alice: 3D becomes 2D

I wrote about the Alice Theatre previously, when it was being offered in a 3-D format.

Now, the creator has made it available in good old fashioned 2-D.  You can print and use as a traditional theatre (which is amazing enough), but they also demonstrate how it can be inventively used with other images for photography prints!

Story Behind the Story

I wrote about this before...

The above clip is from a new documentary explaining who the artists were that created the huge, wall mural depicting a very LARGE toy theatre several stories high!  It's the story behind the story...

A Small Christmas

The Thorne Collection is getting dressed up for Christmas!

Here are a few slides showing this miniature collection being decorated for the holidays...

Dollmaker Extraordinaire

The two Alices on their Wonderland toy theatre stage...

Rebeca Cano makes amazing dolls, yes, but she makes much more than dolls.  She makes an entire world for her dolls down to the smallest, most exquisite detail.  It is truly a joy to behold.

"...she came upon a low curtain she
has not noticed before..."

Before she began making dolls, Rebeca had never sewn.  Hard to believe when you see the incredible miniature clothing and other textiles she creates.  She is mostly self-taught, which I greatly admire.  Inspiration can be a powerful motivator.

Right now, she has a sale on, of a toy theatre tableaux featuring her favorite story character, Alice in Wonderland.  It is an ongoing project of hers...

The project is designed to be exhibited in a museum of contemporary art, as yet undefined.  All my dolls have their origins in a tale that I believe; I like to give soul to my dolls, and that is why I started in this world.

You can read more about Rebeca here and see more of your dolls here...

Another Toy Theatre Mural!

The Toy Theatre is a mural created by artist Peter Waddell on a wall at 1914 Sunderland Place NW at New Hampshire, a block south of Dupont Circle, in Washington, DC...

Occupy Puppets!

I love how the Occupy movement is inspiring people of all sorts to communicate about building a better society. It's what most people want...

Toy Shop Virtual Tour

Anthropomorphic Taxidermy

I don't know about you, but I think anthropomorphic taxidermy has a great power to convey stories and ideas. I adore them...

Theatre Centenary

Nigel Peevers shared this recently:

The Lyceum Theatre in Crewe was 100 years old this year and for their centenary they had a specially commissioned light show projected on the front of the building...in one of life's weird little coincidences I'd already been telephoned and asked if they could use some images from my toy theatre book in the show.

Toy Theatre Large-Scale Mural

"The Toy Theatre is a mural being created by artist 
Peter Waddell with the assistance of fellow artists..."

An amazing public space arts project is unfolding right now in the Washington, DC area. An artist is painting a large-scale mural on a side of a historical building, in a historical neighborhood.

Slowly appearing on the wall is a huge painting of a giant toy theatre. Beneath the monumental proscenium arch, 40' high, the stage is set with scenery representing the first two great mansions of Dupont Circle. The British Legation on Connecticut Avenue and “Stewarts Castle” on the Circle arose from the area's rough farmland in the 1870s.

To see the progress as it unfolds, visit the gallery page of the artist's website.

A Way of Life

My friend Ann (who I hope to meet in person some day), her talented husband, George...and friends!
[Photo Credit:  Lori M. Nichols - Gloucester County Times]

A lovely article about George and Ann Neff, who kindly built me a toy theatre a few years ago. They are a very talented couple who love the world of puppets!

A Paradox: Giant "Toy Theatre"

I came across an article describing an upcoming public art event featuring a giant "Toy Theatre".Created by a UK designer, it is described as being "...based on a Victorian children’s toy theatre built to life-size proportions...The huge cube-shaped stage has incorporated a vibrant Victorian design, mixed with images of popular cult figures, such as The Stig from BBC’s Top Gear, Kermit the frog and Kylie Minogue."

Little Story Houses

I happened upon these fun little theatres thanks to Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop today. The maker is a very talented young woman who also makes dolls...

Tinselled juvenile drama portrait, “Mr. Wood as Sultan in
Sublime and Beautiful.” London: M. & M. Skelt, [c. 1837]. 

It's Dramatis Personae Catalogue time!

Catalogue #107, to be exact.

DP presents for sale, a handful of times per year, some of the best Ephemera available, including several offerings related to juvenile drama, aka toy theatre.

Traveling Family Puppeteers

Post Fishmarket 2011

The Third International Toy Theatre Festival at Vischmarkt this past month was a great success. Wonderful new memories were made by festival performers and audience members alike.

You can see from the photos how diverse and unique each performer's vision was, from the theatre designs to the lighting to the presentations.

Fellow performers and audience members alike were fascinated and curious about each production and often would tour 'backstage', ask questions, etc.

Once can sense great camaraderie among the festival attendees. It reminds me greatly of my experience of attending and participating in science fiction conventions. Fellowship with others that are like-minded is very therapeutic...

Toy Theatre Contest Starts!

Opening Event for Pollock's toy theatre iPad application competition...

Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop has announced an exciting competition involving toy theatre, using their amazing new iPad application...

The beautiful toy theatres of the Victorian era have been brought to life again through Pollock's gorgeous and innovative application for the iPad. Just like the original toy theatres where you immerse yourself in building your own theatre sets, etc.

Description
Competition Closing Date: 31st August (midnight GMT)
Join in the celebrations and be in the chance to win a fabulous new iPad and exclusive Pollock's Store Lock-In. Follow these simple steps and get creative:

1. Download the Pollock's Toy Theatre app from iTunes to your iPad
2. Record your play on your iPad. Don't forget to save it!
3. Decorate your iPad
4. Video yourself, your decorated iPad and your play.
5. Upload the video to youTube and send us a link via the competition facebook page

Terms & Conditions:
Submissions after 31st August will not be counted. The prize is a pair of tickets for the winner and 10 friends to a private hire of the Pollock’s store in Covent Garden, London with refreshments and storytelling entertainment, on a date to be agreed between the winner and the prize provider before 1st October 2011, within a 6pm- 8.30pm Time Slot. These dates/ times are subject to change. The winner acknowledges that in the event that Pollock’s have to change the dates/ times, the promoter does not accept responsibility in these circumstances and no alternative prize will be provided. Prize winners under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times at their Pollock’s event.

My apologies for not posting immediately, since this actually started a few days ago, but I only became aware of it today.  Get your thinking caps on and your iPads out!  August 31st is the deadline.  Good luck, and I hope some of you reading this will share what you come up with...

Cantastoria Festival Starts June 19th

I am passing on an announcement I received today, in hopes that it will let others know about a wonderful event beginning this weekend.  I doubt  you'll find many productions like this anywhere else!

Pre-cinematic technology takes over HERE for a week of contemporary cantastoria cooked up by puppeteers, artists, and craftspeople from across the country. A millenium-old art form is rejuvenated and re-imagined, as performers animate paintings and banners alongside texts, puppets, jokes, songs and stories.

Each unique program features several original shorts on a given theme such as: Boom or Bust, Phobia & Fetish, or Sink or Swim. On June 22nd and 23rd, Great Small Works will perform a brand-new cantastoria, Three Graces, in which three mythical graces — Harmony, Strategy and Splendor — float down to earth for an Op-Art romp inspired by Grace Kelly, Grace Paley, Grace Jones and Grace Lee Boggs.

The Greatest Smallest Band will kick off the afternoon with a parade, followed by simultaneous shows throughout the park. Bring a picnic and the whole family and celebrate Father’s Day and the third longest day of the year with Great Small Works, Bread and Puppet Theater, The Dolly Wagglers, Jonny Clockworks & the Cosmic Bicycle Theatre, Clare Dolan, Sara Peattie, Sam Wilson, Daniel Lang-Levitsky, Theater Oobleck, Redwing Blackbird Theater and the Lubberland National Dance Company, all in full view of the New York Harbor and Lower Manhattan. Free of charge!

AND Great Small Works will present the opening event for Banners and Cranks on Sunday, June 19th, from 4 to 7:30 PM at Pier One in Brooklyn Bridge Park (rain location: the Tobacco Warehouse) in DUMBO on the Brooklyn waterfront.

Illustrations Inspire Toy Theatre

Kate Greenaway book illustrations inspired this delightful toy theatre...

I ran across a mixed-media artist's blog today that featured a lovely toy theatre she threw together, her inspiration coming from the illustrations of Kate Greenaway.  There's something about that artist that I find very appealing.  It is more a composite of the story the characters were taken from rather than a re-telling of that tale, but I like what she came up with.

Precious Object: Toy Theatre

The toy theatre sat in the front room of her house for years when she was married and was played with a lot by every child that came round for tea. Once a letter was posted through the letterbox addressed to “Wooden O’Theatre”.  - From Treasure:  The World's Most Precious Objects

Twenty-three years ago, a woman began making a toy theatre for her son.

           It was during a happy phase 
           when he loved to sit next to her...

It never quite got finished, but it also was never forgotten...

Cantastoria Festival!

Although definitely not toy theatre, an upcoming cantastoria festival is too good to pass up passing on!

From the organization's site behind it, here's the skinny:

Pre-cinematic technology takes over  for a week of contemporary cantastoria, cooked up by puppeteers, artists and craftspeople from across the country. A millennium-old art form is rejuvenated and re-imagined, as performers animate paintings and banners alongside texts, puppets, jokes, songs and stories. 

Each unique program features several original shorts on a given theme, and the festival kicks off with a FREE opening celebration, presented by Great Small Works at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.