The Mind Creative APRIL 2014 | Page 29

The Mind Creative March 2014 While the horses in “War Horse” were manipulated by up to 3 puppeteers per horse, bringing the 6 metre tall King Kong to life required a minimum of 14 people including direct contact with the puppet, puppeteers working very complex animatronics controls and at least one person controlling the automation (a complex computer driven structure that acted like a marionette control for the cables attached to King Kong). However, while these shows were playing in large theatres to thousands of people there has also been a plethora of puppetry activity in Australia. Some of this activity has been generated by the 3 funded puppetry companies (Spare Parts Puppet Theatre in Fremantle, Terrapin in Hobart and Snuff Puppets in Melbourne). Much is being generated by independent puppetry artists as solo performers, duos or occasionally larger entities. While some get to perform in theatres, most of these groups have to tour carrying their stage, lights, sound and puppets with them. Spare Parts Puppet Theatre's adaptation of Shaun Tan's Tales from Outer Suburbia Photo by Jessica Wyld 29