Norwich Puppet Theatre, one of just two puppet theatres in England, is 30 years-old on the 1 December 2010. A series of exciting celebration events begins with an exhibition documenting some of the Theatre’s long history at the Fusion in the Forum, Norwich, from Monday 29 November until Saturday 4 December 2010.


Then on the eve of Norwich Puppet Theatre’s Birthday, there will be a fundraising auction of glove puppets, decorated, adorned or signed by a host of celebrities and artists, including Floella Benjamin, Sir Peter Blake, Stephen Fry, Terry Gilliam, Cath Kidston and Gary Lineker (to name just a few).


On Saturday 4 December 2010, the Theatre has programmed a free family open day, which will be followed in the evening by a puppet cabaret for adults. Finally, the Norwich Puppet is calling for people’s written, photographic and film memories.

Norwich Puppet Theatre opened on 1 December 1980 with Humbug, an adaption of the classic tale of Scrooge. This was followed in spring 1981 with a production of the much-loved story of Pinocchio. The opening of a puppet theatre in Norwich was a huge project, which relied heavily on a dedicated volunteer committee and team of hands-on helpers, with support from Norwich City and Norfolk County Council, local businesses and residents. The conversion of the Church of St James, which had been a men’s night shelter in the mid-1970s, was a massive undertaking and took nearly 3 years to complete.

Norwich Puppet Theatre was the brainchild of a husband and wife puppetry team, Ray and Joan DaSilva, who had been touring their puppet shows extensively across Britain. They were inspired to base the Theatre in Norwich after the warm response from the team at Norwich Theatre Royal and audiences who had seen their puppet shows there.

“I am delighted that Norwich Puppet Theatre is celebrating 30-years. When we originally came up with the idea of setting up the Theatre, we were full of ideas and aspirations but it was hard to envisage how things would be in 5 years time, let alone 30 years! The Theatre remains to this day, a truly special place and it would not be here without the continued support of many Norwich people;, I remember especially Tony Ede, Chair of the early steering committee and its enthusiasm for the project” – Ray DaSilva, Co-Founder of Norwich Puppet Theatre.

Since opening in 1980, hundreds of puppetry professionals have developed their art and skills in devising, directing and performing puppet theatre in Norwich. They have become some of the leading names in the puppetry community, at the heart of the art form in the region, the UK and Europe with hundreds of performances reaching audiences internationally.

“We are immensely proud of the part Norwich Puppet Theatre has played in the development of puppetry as an art form and in training some of the leading puppeteers in the sector. Amongst the Theatre’s alumni and the companies with whom they have gone on to work are Ray DaSilva (the founder), Peter O’Rourke (Spitting Image, Little Angel Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company), John Roberts (Puppetcraft), Sean Myatt (Nottingham Trent University), Joy Haynes (Banyan Theatre), Zannie Fraser (Ripstop Productions), Mark Pitman & Iklooshar Malara (Garlic Theatre), Luis Boy, Mark Whitaker (Horse and Bamboo Theatre and others), Sam Dutton (Royal Shakespeare Company and others) to name but a few” – Ian Woods, General Manager, Norwich Puppet Theatre.

“Many volunteer hours have been spent trawling through old films and photographs of productions. Some fantastic footage has been found and we are sure, once edited, will make a fascinating and entertaining exhibition about the Theatre. We hope people will drop-in to Fusion to find out more!” – Holly Rumble, Trustee and Exhibition Organiser.

Norwich Puppet is calling for people’s memories of the Theatre as part of the celebrations. These can be submitted on-line on their website (www.puppettheatre.co.uk) or dropped in to the Theatre. Written memories, photographs and films are requested, which may be used for the exhibition at Fusion or displayed at the Theatre during the Birthday week.

A highlight of the celebration is the auction of glove puppets at the Forum on Tuesday 30 November 2010 to raise money for exciting future projects. The glove puppets, to be auctioned by TW Gaze, have each been decorated, adorned or signed by a host of well-known celebrities and artists.

Some of the stars who have taken part in the project are: Floella Benjamin, Sir Peter Blake, Quentin Blake CBE, Heston Blumenthal, Richard Briers CBE, Sir Terence Conran, Bernard Cribbins, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Frederick Forsyth, Stephen Fry, Terry Gilliam, Sir Derek Jacobi, Cath Kidston, Gary Lineker, Sir Ian McKellan, Tony Robinson, Prunella Scales, Michael Sheen, Terence Stamp, Virginia Wade and Gok Wan.

“I am delighted to have received such tremendous backing from celebrities and artists for this project – a reflection I’m sure, of the high esteem in which Norwich Puppet Theatre is held nationally. I hope that the event captures the imagination of people in Norwich and they will come along and help us raise a fantastic sum of money. Funds from the auction will be used for developing exciting new projects with the local community and developing new productions” – Debbie-Lee Pinching, Norwich Puppet Theatre Trustee and auction event organiser.

Puppets Received So Far
Mark Addy
Michael Attenborough
Floella Benjamin OBE
Tim Bentinck
Sir Peter Blake CBE
Quentin Blake CBE
Heston Blumenthal OBE
Richard Briers CBE
Steve Bruce
Jan Brychta
Lida Brychta
Simon Callow CBE
Charles Clarke
Sir Terence Conran
Sir Henry Cooper OBE, KSG
Bernard Cribbins
Jamie Cullum
Tom Daley
Peter Duncan
Sophie Ellis Bextor
Michael Foreman
Frederick Forsyth CBE
Stephen Fry
Terry Gilliam
Howard Goodall
Shelia Hancock OBE
Hugh Jackman
Sir Derek Jacobi CBE
Cath Kidston
Paul Lambert
Gary Lineker OBE
Roger Lloyd Pack
Michael Palin CBE
Gareth Malone
David McKee
Sir Ian McKellan CH, CBE
Bill Oddie OBE
Chris Packham
Korky Paul
Debbie Reynolds
Tony Robinson
Prunella Scales CBE
Michael Sheen
Delia Smith
Terence Stamp
Virginia Wade OBE
Gok Wan
Nigel Worthington

Celebrations culminate on Saturday 4 December 2010. The free open day at Norwich Puppet Theatre promises to be lots of fun with two free performances and drop-in puppet-making activities. Garlic Theatre will present Little Red Robin Hood, a fast and funny family show which brings together the classic tales of Robin Hood and Little Red Riding Hood. The audience will be entertained with generous helpings of slapstick, clowning and musical delights. Norwich Puppet Theatre will present Thumbelina, the story of a little girl’s adventures with a frog, mouse, mole and swallow, played out amongst gardening tools, leading Thumbelina to ultimate happiness in the kingdom of flowers. The production uses traditional glove and rod puppets and is an excellent introduction to the magic of theatre for young children.

Finally, on the evening of Saturday 4 December there will be a puppet cabaret show for adults. The line-up will include: Bob Percy, compere and purveyor of wonder, hawker of hogwash, seller of subterfuge, magic, flim flam and sleight of hand mysteries for audiences entertainment and delight; Theatre founders Ray and Joan DaSilva will present, Fanfare for Puppets, the curtain-raiser at the first performance at the theatre on 1 December 1980; Ronnie Le Drew with a special 30th anniversary message from Snitchity Titch, Dodo and friends; Mark Mander with Clementine, the living fashion doll; Steve Tiplady with his One Man Hamlet; Mexican Love Tragedy and Petit Suicide by Gyula Molnar from Sean Myatt; Meg Amsden’s The Invisible City, a sly confection of shadows and projected images, based on a story from Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino; Dangerous Dave, infinitely more daft than dangerous and his ridiculous sidekick Herbert Lemon, present some of the most mind-bendingly silly stunts ever, performed by Nik Palmer and Sarah Rowland; Bryan Clarke’s Punch & Judy for grown-ups; and Zannie Fraser’s, The Black Cat, a dark yet fun tale of revenge based on the story by Edgar Alan Poe.

Fusion Exhibition
Monday 29 November – Saturday 4 December
At Fusion, The Forum, Norwich
Drop-in during Forum opening hours
Free


Auction
Tuesday 30 November
At The Forum, Norwich
6.15pm drinks and canapé reception
7pm auction
Tickets £10 – available in advance from Norwich Puppet Theatre (see below)


Open Day
Saturday 4 December
At Norwich Puppet Theatre
10am – 5pm
Free admission
Tickets for performances issued on the day on a first-come, first-served basis
Drop-in workshops run throughout


Cabaret
Saturday 4 December
At Norwich Puppet Theatre
8pm
Tickets £10 (limited availability)
Suitable for ages 12+


Bookings for the Auction and Cabaret


Box Office – call 01603 629921or email [email protected]
The box office is open Monday – Friday 9.30am to 5pm and from 9.30am on performance or workshop Saturdays. An answerphone service operates at other times.