-
We’re mid-way through construction of Terrapin’s new schools touring show. Space Neighbours, written by Nathan Maynard, is set in an alien gaseous world and rich in fart jokes, with an undercurrent of hard truths about invasion. I’ve tried to design the show to be minimal in impact and maximal in presence, using inflatables for the…
-
Recently I offered the latest project at Terrapin, Space Neighbours (written by Nathan Maynard), as a case study for an approach to sustainable design that I’ve been developing. It involves meeting with all the key players at the beginning of the project – writer, director, performers, makers, stage managers, producers, and administrators – to create…
-
Apparently people liked Feathers! After touring Tasmanian schools last year and playing to over 14,ooo students, Feathers has just wound up a theatre season on the Island. Thanks for all the stars Lesley Graham. Thanks too to the performers who brought these characters to life, and the makers who worked with me at Terrapin on…
-
I made a mascot. Tasmania’s AFL team doesn’t exist yet, but Rum’un the Tassie Devil does, and went live today. More than 400 hours of handwork. Thousands of strips of fur, made from donated old school uniforms from around the state. Input from the local wildlife sanctuary Bonorong on the unique physiology of the species,…
-
I recently presented with the wonderful Dr Tanja Beer on Ecoscenography and Sustainable Puppetry Practice. Some interesting questions were raised by the network of artists and designers involved in the EU-based Impulse Project. One was about longevity: when proposing salvaged materials for theatre design, clients often question whether it will last. There are several ways…
-
There are many approaches to developing a sustainable practice. Mine I would loosely describe as ‘frugality’, a practice of using precious resources – even if they’re junk – with respect and caution. This has led over time to the necessity of materials-informed design: allowing the available materials to influence the design, and to be inseparable…
-
In May and June I granted myself a three week residency. Artist residencies can be excellent for rigour and focus, but they are often an impossibility for sole parents. Applying also involves a lot of paperwork, uncertainty and waiting, and contorting to fit the terms. So instead, I granted one to myself and stayed home!…
-
I’ve been thinking about the old Waste Heirarchy – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – for years, and how it needs more levels to reflect the need to push it upstream to where decisions are made. So here’s one I’ve developed for theatre. It’s a helix now, so the different layers can talk to each other. Please…
-
As part of Arts on Tour’s Green Touring Online series I co-presented a session on sustainable making practices. Here’s the gist. I’ve been developing techniques for working with salvaged and low-impact materials for the last 27 years, and my work for performance has toured nationally and internationally to theatres, schools, festivals, galleries and museums. There…
-
We’re in the countdown to rehearsals for Terrapin’s next touring show, Feathers. In the role of puppet designer, mentor and lead maker, I’ve been working with Danny Miller and Mads Hillam for almost a year to build seven characters, all technically challenging in their own way. The emphasis, as always, has been on using materials…
