Ideas? Suggestions? Massive amounts of intelligence and/or knowledge? Posted by Chris Arveson on Feb 25, 2010
I have been offered the opportunity to travel to South Africa in mid-November to take a puppet show there. The main aim for me to be there is to take a puppet show to children in a desperately poor area called Heavenly Valley. Here is a picture of one of the little ones who lives there:
Now Russia is easy for me. I have long been reading their history, their stories, listening to the music. South Africa will be an entirely new thing for me. There is no indigenous puppetry tradition there of which I could take advantage. I have been searching for local stories, and have some, but I could use ideas from anyone regarding what kind of show I might put together. I will be talking to other folks who have been to Heavenly Valley, but I would also like to know if any of you puppetry folks have any ideas.
Re: Ideas? Suggestions? Massive amounts of intelligence and/or knowledge? Posted by gompie on Feb 25, 2010
To see to the picture the childeren are poor and South Africa is mostly poor. I would ask the people who invited you about things the kids do there. Make a story from something that is in their world or things they dream of;get a good play toy they always wished or have a mummy and a daddy, get a new beautiful dress or a bike. Keep the story in their world they are living in. I suggest to give the kids something to remember the show when the get home. Picture of the puppet, a pen or a writing block with the picture of the puppets playing in the show. A tresure for them.
The name of the valley heavenly valley is a great name let them be for a moment in heaven.
Re: Ideas? Suggestions? Massive amounts of intelligence and/or knowledge? Posted by Shawn on Feb 25, 2010
Very cool. Africa is very rich in history and the visuals can be stunning. Give these links a try. Should get you started.
African Stories
http://www.sacred-texts.com/afr/saft/index.htm
http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/cm/africana/children.htm
http://www.vanhunks.com/
Puppets or Puppet Companies of Africa
http://www.euronet.nl/users/edotter/Elisabeth/Puppetry_EdO.html
http://www.handspringpuppet.co.za/
http://africanpuppet.blogspot.com/2009/07/giant-african-puppets-on-parade.html
http://www.randafricanart.com/Bamana_marionettes.html
Re: Ideas? Suggestions? Massive amounts of intelligence and/or knowledge? Posted by Nikole H. on Feb 26, 2010
What an amazing opportunity. I think you will find that you are going to experience a personal change in yourself along with changing the lives of these lovely children. I think it is wonderful that you are researching local stories. I also think that since these children never see this art, they will be happy with whatever story you choose. A simple puppet movement to music will be all the rave of this community in my opinion. You are my hero for taking on such a wonderful opportunity such as this. I will be following your posts about this very closely as it has always been my dream to travel to this mysterious country. You have the biggest standing ovation from me.
Will you be taking any handmade puppets with you to give as gifts to the children? If so, are you taking any puppet donations? I would be happy to send you simple puppets to take with you.
Re: Ideas? Suggestions? Massive amounts of intelligence and/or knowledge? Posted by Chris Arveson on Feb 26, 2010
Thanks, all, for these links and suggestions. As this is a few months away, I have time to research, think, and plan, so I'm always ready for more input. As soon as I got off the phone from the man that asked me to consider going, I started googling. Gary Friedman and his work was certainly prominent. The videos of his work that I've seen I really enjoyed, especially the use of hand puppets, a la Burr Tillstrom and the Kuklapolitans.
I'm not tied to any particular type of puppetry for this. I am most used to the foam and fabric, hand in mouth puppets, but hand puppets attract me as well.
One thing I am aware of, is that Africa is a vast continent, and even within a single country there are many tribal groups with differing cultures. I have ordered a couple of children's story books, as well as downloaded a collection similar to the one Shawn directed me toward (and which I have bookmarked). One author has taken many traditional Southern African stories and adapted them to a more modern audience. I'm not so interested in using one of those stories directly, but to compare her work with the un-adapted story to learn more from her technique, and see if I can develop a skill along those lines.
On trips to Russia, I have taken finger puppets, to give out as gifts, and this last year I had postcards made of the Peter and the Wolf cast, on stage (with Titere's stunning backdrop) and gave all the kids a postcard after the show. I used postcards because of their thickness and strength, compared to regular photographs.
While thinking about the next trip to Siberia, I was thinking about doing them both, so I will probably put that to work on this trip. Since I don't have a particular subject for the show, yet, I don't know exactly what I might use. Obviously finger puppets of African animals would work well. I thought I would enlist folks from my churches, and others that I have interaction with, and see if they would make finger puppets for me, if I provided patterns for them to work with. That way I could get a couple hundred puppets with minimum time on my part.
I don't really know the details of the trip yet, so I will be talking with the director of the trip, to get more details. For example, if we will be going to Heavenly Valley a number of times, then I could use a series of stories, and present a different story on each visit. If we will be making single visits to other locations with children, I can use several stories in a row to make a single, longer show.
My usual puppet stage is a set of four stands, with crossbars to support a front curtain, a backdrop, and now, a proscenium type curtain that frames the stage a little better. Somehow I'm thinking that it would be fun to do something less formal in this environment. Again, bright ideas would be most welcome.
I can't say that I have no ideas, rather, I think there are about a thousand semi-formed ideas floating around in my mind, and the more suggestions I am given, I think the more it will help ideas take on a more concrete form, on which I can go to work.
I love using music. I thought one way to open a show would be to use a jig doll dancing to some music like CJB666 brought out in this post http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/topic,5369.msg47966.html#msg47966. Perhaps I can find someone who could carve a couple of African animal jig dolls. A dancing lion and/or ostrich could be fun.
It turns out that the song, "The Lion Sings Tonight." originates from South Africa, though much re-written by the time the Tokens popularized it in the U.S. As I write, I am downloading from Amazon.com the original version by the writer, Solomon Linda, in 1939, Pete Seeger and the Weavers version from 1952 and Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South African choral group) from 1994.
Who knows what I'll end up with, but it's going to be fun!