In this section
In this section
a series of on-line puppetry conversations focusing on different themes throughout Autumn/Winter 2024
Our 2024 Puppetry & … sessions
Puppetry & Women
what are the themes that are connecting those of us that identify as Women?
Co-hosted by Sue Buckmaster and Aya Nakamura
Monday 28th October on Zoom 19:15 to 21:15
Aya Nakamura is a London-based theatre-maker, puppeteer, puppetry director, and puppet maker originally from Japan. Over the past 15 years, she has worked on numerous puppet productions for a variety of companies, including Improbable, Theatre-Rites, The Old Trout Puppet Workshop (Canada), Polka Theatre, Handbendi Brúðuleikhús (Iceland), Little Angel Theatre, Oily Cart, Horse & Bamboo, Norwich Puppet Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, and Wattle & Daub Figure Theatre. Aya also runs the award-winning company Rouge28 Theatre, which has toured productions both nationally and internationally.
Puppetry & Dance
what does the future hold?
who is working in puppetry and dance?
Co-hosted by Sue Buckmaster and Takeshi Matsumoto
Thursday 21st November on Zoom 19:15 to 21:15
Takeshi Matsumoto is Japanese dance artist based in London, making dance performances for young audiences by working with/for children. His work often explores materiality. He was awarded an artist development programme as a Vital Spark Associate Artist and is currently touring Club Origami, a participatory and immersive dance performance for children under 6 years old, commissioned by Little Big Dance. His other ongoing project is to create dance films with stateless refugee children in Thailand, tackling issues around social injustice and the rights of children.
Puppetry & Queerness
How do we queer puppetry?
Co-hosted by Sue Buckmaster and Anders Duckworth
Monday 25th November on zoom 19:15 to 21:15
Anders is a British/Swedish dancer, choreographer and visual artist who often engages with moving props/objects as part of their work. Anders’ work blurs movement and visual arts, and they collaborate with artists working in computer coding, residual media, fine art, projection, fashion, music technology and design to find different languages in order to open the possibilities of performance and choreography. They are a Work Place (associate) Artist at The Place (2021-2026) and are currently developing Little M, a trans retelling of The Little Mermaid for family audiences.
Puppetry & Climate Activism
What could we be doing better?
Co-hosted by Sue Buckmaster and Amber Massie-Blomfield
Wednesday 27th November on Zoom 19:15 to 21:15
Amber is a writer and arts professional. She is a 24/25 Clore Fellow and was previously Executive Director of Complicité, where she chaired the working group responsible for Theatre Green Book’s international touring guidance and introduced a ‘climate leave’ programme for Complicité staff. Her writing has been published in the Guardian and Times Literary Supplement, among other publications. In 2024 her book Acts of Resistance: The Power of Art to Create a Better World was published, and she is now committing her next research to all things relating to Climate Activism.
These will be private conversations, rather than a presentation by the co-hosts. In addition to the co-hosts there will be a maximum of 6 spaces available for each session.
To apply to join the conversation please email info@theatre-rites.co.uk specifying your session of choice and why you think that is the best conversation for you to be part of.
Please let us know by 18th October if you are interested in attending Puppetry & Women
For Dance, Queerness and Climate Activism please let us know if you are interested in attending by 11th November
