Right
here in Toronto: here are two wonderful resources for
anyone interested in puppetry.
Make plans to visit soon with your school group or on
your own!
The
Osborne Collection and the Lillian H. Smith & Marguerite
Bagshaw Collections
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The
Osborne Collection
Class visits and Group Tours
Teachers and instructors are welcome
to contact the Osborne Collection to arrange group visits,
subject to space and scheduling. Classes starting at grade
4+ may enjoy exhibits and talks, while high school, college
and university-level students may be given subject presentations
on Osborne material.
Mon. - Fri. 10-6, Sat. 9-5
Website: The
Osborne Collection
Phone:
416-393-7753
Fax: 416-393-7635 |
Lillian
H. Smith & Marguerite Bagshaw Collections
Lillian H. Smith Public Library
239 College St.
Toronto, ON M5T 1R5
Website: Marguerite
Bagshaw Collection, Children's
Literature Collections
Phone: 416-393-7746
Wheelchair Accessible
Contacts:
Theo
Heras, Children's
Literature Specialist-
theras@torontopubliclibrary.ca |
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| Puppets
Up! Festival - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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Puppets
Up! is an international festival of puppets that each year
attracts thousands of visitors to beautiful Almonte, in
Mississippi Mills, Ontario, 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa.
The third weekend of August, professional puppetry troupes
descend on Almonte to amaze, amuse, and astound audiences
with a wide range of exceptional performances for all ages.
Shows are held in five main theatres set up along the historic
main street beside the waterfalls of the Mississippi River.
Street entertainment includes clowns, buskers, musicians,
dancers, and daily puppet parades led by celebrity parade
marshals. Come discover the arts in Almonte at Puppets Up!
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Toronto
Festival of Storytelling |
For
30 years the Storytellers School of Toronto has been bringing
you stories and storytellers from around the globe as part
of the Toronto Festival of Storytelling. |
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This
web page connects you with other puppeteers in Ontario
regardless of location. The yearly meetings and occasional
special events provide the opportunity to socialize and exchange
ideas. Our membership is being rejuvenated with an influx
of talented young professionals and puppet practitioners. |
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Mike
Harding, Chief Puppeteer
Applefun Puppetry
Phone: (416) 895-3492
www.applefun.ca
Since
1997, Applefun Puppetry has been performing its hilarious
brand of entertainment throughout Ontario. Whether it's
a birthday party or an annual company event, Applefun
will be there to make sure the kids are having fun.
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Hugh
Phillips
The Fairytale Puppet Theatre
Toronto On
fairytalepuppettheatre.com
416-469-5342 |
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Grey
Muldoon and James Ashby devised the name Bricoteer Puppetry
Project for several related reasons: 1) to emphasize how they
creatively use material available “at hand” to
construct both stories and puppets, a tendency encapsulated
in the critical term bricolage (bricoteer is an amalgamation
of the words bricolage and puppeteer); 2) to declare openly
that they are most interested in pushing the boundaries of
puppetry, which in many ways already goes beyond what the
theatre of human actors is capable of doing; 3) to inform
others that theirs is an ongoing project that always welcomes
new collaborators. |
NINA
KEOGH
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Nina
is a 3rd generation artist, puppet builder and puppeteer.
Her career in theatre and television started in 1958 when
she apprenticed as a puppeteer on the Friendly Giant with
her parents John and Linda Keogh. His parents Vi and David
created 8 foot high marionettes and operated them at places
like Massey Hall - along with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
(i.e.- Peter and The Wolf)
She has hosted several series for TVO and CBC (including
The Polkadot Door and Drop-In)
Contact
Nina at ninakeogh@gmail.com
Website: www.ninakeogh.com
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| THE
PADDLING PUPPETEERS : www.paddlingpuppeteers.com
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The
Paddling Puppeteers have been performing their musical puppet
shows across Ontario and Quebec since 1999. A variety of colourful
puppets bring to life several stories having to do with the
environment. The shows present ideas of how we can take simple
steps to preserve and restore Canada's natural heritage. |
ME
AND MY SHADOWS
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Inspired
by Javanese/Balinese traditions our shadow puppet performances
and playshops have been adapted to the North American context.
Our Multicultural Shadow Play allows for the sharing of
diverse cultures, ideas, experiences and landscapes in a
format that is fun, dynamic and rich and can be adapted
to the time frames and needs of our participants.
A general
partnership owned and operated by Susan Allen and Susiawan,
Me and My Shadows works in the field of learning through
the arts and movement, and offers diverse performances and
workshops in Javanese/ Balinese shadow puppetry, mask-making,
integrated art, creative movement and yoga to engage all
ages in creative, active, cultural expression and sharing.
Susiawan
& Susan Allen
WEBSITE |
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PUPPET
ADVENTURE
Doreen D'Eath performs, leads workshops and much much more
Email:doreen@puppetadventure.com
Web: www.puppetadventure.com
Phone us at: 416-787-8588 |
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PERFORMER
& BUILDER
Joel Brubacher has been building and playing with puppets
since his early childhood. In May 2005, he established
Banjo Puppets to legitimize the work he has been doing
for most of his life.
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| PUPPET
THEATRE COMPANIES & Others |
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Studio
Babette Puppet Theatre strives to provide quality puppet
performances in a myriad of styles, which reflect the European
background of traditional puppet forms, combined with the
unique artistry of modern Canadian puppetry.
CONTACT
website: www.studiobabette.ca
email: puppets@studiobabette.ca |
| CLAY
& PAPER THEATRE: www.clayandpapertheatre.org
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Out
amongst the community bake-ovens and lush gardens of Dufferin
Grove Park, Clay and Paper Theatre has been changing the
world. Completely. Irrevocably. Medieval mystery plays,
Punch and Judy shows, African myths, Indonesian shadow puppetry,
Native Canadian masks- all these and more have been influencing
Clay and Paper Theatre Company since its birth in 1994.
This is theatre on the ground, for the groundlings, in the
park and on the street. This is theatre of exaggeration,
of giant puppetry, of satire and wit gone awry. This is
a little theatre company asking big questions with humour
and irreverence. This is Clay and Paper Theatre. |
| PUPPET
MONGERS: www.puppetmongers.com
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•
Puppetmongers create entertaining plays of relevance for intimate
audiences
• make shows for children, families and adults audiences
• build on the traditions to invent new and wonderful
forms of puppetry
• explore what puppets can be and can do
• make puppet theatre that is beautiful, exciting, and
delightful
• tour locally, nationally and internationally.
• work with other artists and companies on projects
and productions
• offer classes to adult learners through our School
of Puppetry |
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Shadow
Puppet Theatre is a professional shadow puppet troupe located
in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
They produce puppet shows, design and build our own puppets
and lead workshops in making and manipulating puppets for
people of all ages — we are interested in the history
of puppetry and in learning old techniques as well as developing
new ones.
More Info: www.shadowpuppettheatre.com |
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Shadowland
creates theatre that is expressive in style, highly imaginative
in concept and spectacular in execution. Masks, puppetry,
stilts, live music, fire and evocative visual imagery draw
audiences into worlds where stories unfold and dreams are
unravelled.
Shadowland was founded in 1983 and is based on Toronto Island.
Anne
Barber & Brad Harley
Artistic Directors
20 Fifth Street
Ward's Island, Toronto, ON, Canada
website
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"The
Old Trout Puppet Workshop is a puppet theatre company, founded
on a ranch in southern Alberta in 1999. Our first year of
operation was an experience of intense collaborative isolation
– we lived together, cooked together, and worked together.
We collected eggs, fed the pigs, and premiered our first show
to a bunkhouse full of cowboys and Hutterites."
"We’re dedicated to making professional puppet
theatre, for both children and adults, that blurs that distinction.
We launch forth to explore the outer edges of the puppet medium,
and to create original, unique, and exuberant art. An Old
Trout show strives for delightful allegory, joyful tragedy,
and purity of spirit. We’ve created six productions:
The Unlikely Birth of Istvan, The Tooth Fairy, Beowulf, The
Last Supper of Antonin Carême, Pinocchio, and now Famous
Puppet Death Scenes." |
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"Since
1995, Puppets Elora has used traditional puppetry to bring
affordable live theatre to children. Our highly-skilled
volunteer puppeteers have backgrounds in education, community
theatre and the arts. Members write or adapt plays as well
as design and build beautifully-sculpted and elaborately-dressed
hand puppets, props, and scenery. Puppets Elora performs
throughout Wellington and Dufferin Counties, Waterloo Region,
and sometimes beyond."
Website |
| JUMBLIES
THEATRE: www.jumbliestheatre.org
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| DRAMAWAY:
http://www.dramaway.com
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DramaWay
provides a creative outlet for both young and old. Using dramatic
techniques, participants are led down the paths of discovery.
Participants are given the opportunity to engage in drama
and other art forms. DramaWay places emphasis on the process
of creation, and the experience of the journey. At DramaWay,
we believe that drama allows everyone the opportunity to connect
with others in their community, and to learn about themselves
while doing so. Our programs aim to promote social development,
enhance self-esteem, and improve communication. |
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Since
1976, Theatre Direct Canada has produced over 80 productions
for 2 million young people across the country. Of these, over
40 were directly commissioned and developed by the company.
In recognition of its outstanding work for young audiences,
Theatre Direct Canada has been the recipient of 20 Dora Mavor
Moore nominations resulting in 4 Awards and 9 Chalmers Canadian
Play Awards.
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PERFORMER
& BUILDER
Joel Brubacher has been building and playing with puppets
since his early childhood. In May 2005, he established
Banjo Puppets to legitimize the work he has been doing
for most of his life.
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CHENSATIONAL
PUPPETS
Kanja Chen
WEBSITE
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Chensational
Puppets offers a range of services to fit
every aspect of your puppet-related project. From custom
puppet building to puppeteering, Chensational Puppets
brings experience and talent to make your production the
best it can be.
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Steven
Barkley of Diabolo Puppets
Contact
Information: Jenny or Steven: 450-962-9848
WEB: www.diabolopuppets.com
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Diabolo Puppets is a small company based in Laval, Quebec.
It was founded in 1992 by designer/owner Steven Barkley,
who has been making puppets since childhood. The Diabolo
puppets line features colourful, funny, and mainly imaginary
creatures.
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BLOG
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Peu
importe le médium, Mathieu René demeure créateur
de créatures, d'où le nom Créaturiste.
Il a toujours été, et demeure fasciné,
par une multititude de disciplines artistiques visuelles.
La marionnette est son domaine principal, et lui permet la
fusion d'une majorité de ses intérêts
en un seul objet de performance. Il crée et performe
en tant que marionnettiste pour une clientèle locale
et internationale. Il offre également de la formation
sur mesure en fabrication. Il adore le travail sur mesure,
et offre un large éventail de styles et de prix.
________________________
Regardless of Medium, Mathieu René remains a Creature
Maker, hence the name Créaturiste. He has always been
and remains to this day, fascinated by a multitude of visual
arts disciplines. Puppetry is his main field of activity.
He creates, and performs as a puppeteer, for a local and international
clientele.He also offers custom workshops in fabricating techniques
of puppets, masks, and accessories. He offers a wide range
of styles and prices. |
| Naomi
Kates
WEBSITE
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ART
THERAPIST/EDUCATOR - PUPPET BUILDER
Naomi designs, builds and incorporates puppets into her
different applications of art. She was an assistant puppet
builder in television and the wonderful experience she
gained from that work led her to design puppets for theatre,
private individuals and for her own projects. Naomi particularly
enjoys inventing characters and building expression into
them, whether through drawing, painting or in three-dimensional
mixed media.
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| Kelly
Kirkham
WEBSITE
BLOG |
Kirkham
Puppets came into being during the winter of 2001. Kelly
Kirkham, a visual artist with a background in drawing, painting
and sculpture, was on the hunt for a particular sort of
hand puppet, one she remembered from earlier years, with
a hard papier-mâché painted head and soft cloth
body. Unable to find any, she decided to make some herself,
and Kirkham Puppets was born. Kelly has been creating her
puppets ever since, including hand puppets, finger puppets,
marionettes and rod puppets.
Open
Door Designs is pleased to stock Kelly's puppets in the
retail store, click here to
see what is available. |
| Alexander
Mergold - Doll Artist
WEBSITE
BLOG
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Pasha
Romanowski is the founder and owner of Project Puppet. Lots
of information on puppet building concepts and techniques,
tutorials and patterns and kits for sale, especially for foam
and fleece hand puppets. Website |
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Noreen
Young is a Canadian producer and puppeteer/puppet builder
who is actively involved in the pupppetry business through
her corporation, Noreen Young Productions. She was born in
Ottawa, Ontario, and currently lives nearby in Almonte where
she helps foster a vibrant arts community. |
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With
a successful performing company on the go Byron and Marlene
morton worked tirelessly to build Images Puppet Productions
Inc. to what it is today. “Canada’s Largest Resource
Center for the Puppetry Arts,” producing everything
from small hand puppets to custom corporate mascots. |
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Founded
in 1986 by Luman & Arlyn Coad, Charlemagne Press is
the imprint of Coad Canada Puppets and only publishes books
of advanced level puppetry and related topics. Book proposals,
if within our specialty, are welcome.
Contact:
website |
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Formed
in 1984, The Toronto Animated Image Society is a not-for-profit,
artist-run organization. Over the past 25 years, TAIS has
encouraged the exchange of information, facilities, ideas
and aesthetics within Toronto's animation community through
events, screenings, workshops, and art exhibitions. The TAIS
membership is made up of independent and professional animators,
educators, enthusiasts and artists.
Incorporated in 1990, The Toronto Animated Image Society currently
receives financial support from the Canada Council for the
Arts (Media Arts Section), the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto
Arts Council and our membership, who raise funds for TAIS
through fundraising, membership fees and admissions.
TAIS also houses a specialized animation studio, where animators
and other artists can create independent animated work. |
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This wonderful
site has many pages devoted to puppetry. You will find many
pictures and references to the extensive collection of historical,
Canadian and international puppets donated to the The
Canadian Museum of Civilization.The
Museum's collection, boasting more than 2,000 puppets and
accessories, along with extensive archival material, is unique
in its ability to illustrate important facets of puppet theatre
in Canada. |
1062 N.
Fair Oaks Avenue - Pasadena, CA 91103
telephone - fax: 626-296-1536
website: www.PuppetryMuseum.org
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WHO
WE ARE & WHAT WE DO HISTORY:
In October of 1999, a group of puppeteers, producers, business
professionals and lovers of puppetry came together to form
a steering committee. The goal was to create a non-profit
center in Southern California that promotes and preserves
puppetry arts. While there are other such centers in the United
States, here in America's heartland of entertainment, there
is no place dedicated to honor and celebrate this magical
art. As we begin the 21st Century, we are pledged to the creation
of what was formally know as the Conservatory of Puppetry
Arts (COPA) and is known as the International Puppetry Museum
(IPM). |
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TheaterFigurenMuseum
Lübeck
In old warehouses dating back 400 years, located in the heart
of the old romantic Hanseatic city of Lübeck you will
find a spectacular exhibit.
The internationally renowned Museum of Theatre Puppets houses
historical marionettes, musical instruments, barrel organs,
stage props and posters from around the world across three
countries. All the artefacts tell their own story of cultural
history: about Indian myths, Chinese rituals, African tribes,
German fairs and many more.
Visit the Museum to experience a magical journey through the
world of puppetry!
Kolk 14
23552 Lübeck, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)451 7 86 26
Fax: +49 (0)451 7 84 36
Website |
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"Puppet
Buzz is your number one source for puppetry news with an
international flare. The Puppet Buzz website has been created
and is maintained by an international collective of dedicated
puppeteers, puppet builders and puppet enthusiasts." |
A
rich tribute to an endearing and enduring rascal. The
English Mr.Punch is truly an international character as
well as being the British National Puppet. His origins
are in Naples, whilst his family is worldwide.
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Everything
you wanted to know about Punch and Judy and more
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PUPPET
VISION BLOG |
A
wonderful compilation of puppet and puppetry information
gleaned from many sources. |
PUPPETEERS
UNITE WEBSITE |
Puppeteers
Unite Mission
To provide information concerning
puppet performance, building, and business practices. To
promote fellow puppeteers in their endeavors. We believe
information, will strengthen our puppeteer community and,
in-turn, foster, support, and empower present and future
puppeteers. |
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"Comedy,
comedy, comedy. That's what this act is all about.
But John Park is no joke-telling stand-up comic.
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Instead,
this performer uses clever juggling and visually engaging
comedy routines set to music to make his audience laugh.
The crowd is with John all the way - even on stage, as
volunteers take part and challenge John laugh for laugh
for the comedic spotlight."
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Absolutely
Stunning Sterling |
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Hand
Painted Silk |
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| DESIGN
GILBERT DUFOUR |
High quality leather goods |
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Image
Foundry specializes in edition printing, custom art
reproduction projects, and high-end photo-retouching
work.
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1581
Dupont Street,
Toronto, Ontario
M6P 3S5
Contact:
www.imagefoundry.ca
phone: 416-477-5652 |
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A
little further afield but worth the walk!
Beautiful, unique food in a cozy setting. |
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ZOCAL0
1426 Bloor Street West
(at the corner of Symington Avenue)
Toronto, ON M6P
(647) 342-1567
Website
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THE
STOP - COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRE:
www.thestop.org
Healthy
Beginnings is
a pre-and postnatal nutrition, health and social support
program serving low-income women and their families in Toronto
's Davenport West community. |
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PERTH
DUPONT COMMUNITY GARDEN
The
garden in the Symington Avenue Park was started by the City
Councillor Adam Giambrone in 2005.
The Perth Dupont Community Garden
is located just north of Dupont St. and west of Lansdowne
Ave, one block west of Symington Ave. The entrance to the
garden is on Perth Ave. |
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Dufferin
Grove Park
Dufferin Grove Park is a public neighbourhood
park located in Toronto Canada, just south of Bloor, on the
east side of Dufferin. |
