This week, we took the time to visit Puppet People: A Snapshot of Australian Puppetry – an exhibit at the Tony Gould Gallery in the Cremorne Theatre, QPAC. We saw puppets by Peter Scriven (Marionette Theatre of Australia), David Hamilton, Phillip Edmiston (The Queensland Marionette Theatre), Bill & Barbara Turnbull (Bilbar Puppet Theatre), Peter Wilson (Handspan Theatre), Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, David Morton & Tim Sharp (Dead Puppet Society). It was very interesting to learn about all of these great performers who paved the way in Australia for current puppeteers on the scene like us here at Larrikin Puppets.
We also visited the Queensland Theatre of Puppetry (QTOP) on the Gold Coast, and enjoyed a wonderful puppet show performed by kids. After the show we met with puppeteer Phil Bell (of Timbarra Productions) who runs the events there on the school holidays.
The Queensland Theatre of Puppetry events are held in the Gerda Pinter Pavilion at MacIntosh Island Park in Surfers Paradise. This venue is a dedicated puppet theatre, and is fully equipped with great lighting, sound, curtains, seating, and everything that makes a puppet show look the best it can be. Cost of entry was $6 cash at the door, and all of that money is donated to charity.
