2014

Let us wish you all a happy, healthy, peaceful, exciting, amusing, awesome, successful, inspiring, joyful, enriching and independent                       2014!   

No idea who sneaked in the guy with the hat?

Seasons Greetings

Hi everyone and here are some words for the occasion by my friend Woelfi or Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as he is called. He seem to be able to have a poem for every occasion (sorry no translation supplied). Born in 1749 the old guy is going rather well for his age. So for that matter special greetings from the whole team and the Puppeteer. We hope it has been a good year for you and that 2014 will be exiting and adventurous and that all your wishes may come true.

Marionette Gallery 4 - Patupaiarehe -

Mustava and the Kauri Giant was an ecological play that toured in the beginning of the 1990s throughout New Zealand. It was all about one of the last big Kauri trees that was in danger of being chopped down. In this multicultural forest of his there was a Chinese dragon and a German Nome as well. At the end the Patupaiarehe saved the day and the Kauri with his powers. Here is a snapshot of what he looks like. Of course he spoke Maori and with his imposing figure, more than twice the size of the main character, he suddenly appeared in the forest. Sheer magic when a stunning aaahhhh went through the audience the moment he showed up.

More about the Patupaiarehe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patupaiarehe
http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=1128

Snow White and the seven Dwarfs

Another Brothers Grimm Fairytale that will tour New Zealand in 2014. The collection of their fairy-tales was first published in Germany more than 200 years ago!

And no, Walt Disney did not write the story he just used it once the copyright had expired. 

Though like Rumpelstiltzkin you can look at a lot of different readings for this story. The moral aspects, the greed of the stepmother, the charity of the Dwarfs to help Snow White and others are great follow up possibilities in the classroom or at home. You might argue that we spend too little time talking about moral questions.  Just like other stories that Strings Attached performs there are modern references and amusement for all ages. What was the stepmother’s original profession? What do the Dwarfs really think of all this? What does the hunter do when he is scared? Many questions like this will be answered once you see us live. And last but not least we promise a happy end! For now, let’s hear it from one of the participants.

Thanks, Cheers and see you soon.

 

Do Marionettes talk?

How do we, the Marionettes, talk? Yes certainly there is a recorded voice or someone just talking for it. Though how do you catch the character you want to portrait? The voice is a very strong lead  for each character on stage. You may choose a high or low voice, a growl or lisp, a funny voice or a straight up intonation. The range is staggering and as an actor you are trained in the ways to modify your voice for a given occasion. The carved figure is helping here as it portraits a character in itself. The above is a small sample of voice  and I will add some more to give the contrast. Being a solo performer, it is at times a challenge to get the right tone that contrasts enough with all the others in the show. They have to be clear and audible, pinpointing the character of the Marionette and giving clues to the audience. Intonation and the play with dialects and tone, I love that aspect of getting a production on stage. Here are a few options for the same character, have a look and listen.

 Any favourites so far? Try the next two maybe they will do!?

What do you think? The top one is his usual stage voice.  Cheers

RUMPELSTITZKIN a Brothers Grimm Fairytale

Rumpelstiltzkin is certainly my favourite fairytale. All characters seem to be a shade of grey, the miller tells white lies, the king is greedy and gullible, the miller’s daughter sees potential of advancement and Rumpelstiltzkin well he tries to help but maybe asks for more than he should. It makes it very human in a way, as we can ask who is without blame. There are many other readings for it and it’s a great way to discuss moral ethics with children. My King, a rather down on his luck one, sees a chance to regain wealth and here is a little scene with him complaining. Brotha M, the brother of Mustava, is a street smart wise guy and most of the time overenthusiastic. He can’t help himself as you might notice in the little sketch. This tale is just a brilliant story for all ages with a lot of contemporary sidelines. Find time to watch the whole show somewhere near you. Have a little taste with two characters of the team.

Productions past and present

Productions of the last 30 years which are not in chronological order

In these productions I have often taken well known and loved stories, then putting my own twist on them, but more often creating original material.

·        

           Rumpelstiltzkin a Brother Grimm Fairytale

·         Jack and the Beanstalk

·         Snow White and the seven Dwarfs

·         Fading memories

·         Mustava and the Moon

·         Mustava and the Kauri Giant

·         Plays by Hans Sachs and Till Eulenspiegel

·         Yes - Tabletop Theatre Production about New Zealand’s History

·         Little Red  Riding Hood

·         Commissioned production from Dominion Museum for Davida Allen show

·         Commissioned production for the Goethe Institute for Classroom work in Australia and New Zealand

·         Rumpelstiltzkin goes Hip Hop together production with Musicisthelanguage

·         Videos without words production with Musicisthelanguage

·         Titanic the Marionette show

·         Beauty and the Beast – in production

Marionette Gallery 3 - The old man and the woodcutter -

The old man and the woodcutter. Both performed in a number of plays and yes the old man has toured around the world on a number of occasions. He developed a rather deep smokers cough that sounds rather unhealthy. Might have been the climate change from +30 in Africa to - 30 in Siberia just a few month apart. Then again, lets face it I have no idea what these guys are up to when I go to bed. The woodcutter is a bit simple but pleasant, during exciting moments his hairpiece might lift off.... rather embarrassing he thinks.

Overseas travel 2

Russia, or better the former Sowjetunion, has established puppet theatres around its vast country. Obraszow, a friend of Stalin and puppeteer must have got the ball rolling and here on our travels in Siberia the legacy, after the fall of the iron curtain, was still evident. The former eastern block countries were all fond of puppetry but I never had a chance to visit there and experience it. We, Nico Suave a rapper, Werner and myself and the puppets performed in beautifully design and equipped puppet theatres with 50 and more members, the costume designer, the director, front of house, light person and sound engineer, ....... and yes there were puppeteers too. It was simply wonderful; anything you could think of was possible. Though as a solo performer, with a minimal set up, it was at times overbearing. No thank you just one light will do. For them a surprise.... you can do it all alone? And you designed and carved and dressed all the marionettes???  Everybody was interested, welcoming and very friendly  on this tour, set into motion by Werner from Musicisthelanguage and the Goethe Institute in Novosibirsk. Yes it was November 2012 and the temperature went down to minus 30 degree Celsius, but you spend most of the time indoors. And going out was not a big problem as it is a very dry cold and my jeans, a sweater and a wind jacket did the trick.  The cities we visited, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tomsk und Irkutsk were reached by travelling with the Transsiberian Railways. The carriages are HUGE with two staff per wagon. A samovar supplied us with hot water and so the hours passed with endless cups of tea, frozen windows and a white landscape outside.  A myriad of impressions  later one finds oneself back in New Zealand and it all seems slightly unreal. Those beautifullll wooden houses build from solid logs with dovetail joints on every outside corner, the shop selling ice cream when its well into 20 below, the open air farmers market selling meat... no refrigeration needed, the Baikal Sea set in white, culture, markets, art, frozen cities full of life, thanks for the wonderful time. 

Marionette Gallery 2 - The little dwarf -

This is the little Dwarf who was part of Mustava and the Kauri Giant as well as the new modified production of Snow white and the seven Dwarfs. Most of my marionettes are about 600 mm high, this fellow is only 200mm. His cute movements and voice are a hit with each audience. Rather bossy in nature he does not take no for an answer....... you might meet him yourself one day.