The Banff Puppet Theatre Intensive, presented by The Banff Centre, the Old Trout Puppet Workshop, in association with the Calgary Animated Objects Society, offers a two-week exploration into the creative art of puppet theatre. The Old Trouts are a company founded on the collaborative nature of devised, ensemble-based creation, they build their shows through a process of consensus, which shall be the thesis of this workshop.

Over the 15-day period of the workshop, participants will explore exercises that identify the physical awareness and synchronicity of an ensemble, as well as participate in an arena of debate and building that facilitates an effective sharing of ideas. These exercises will in turn support the foundation of original, theatrical, puppet performances to be developed in the subsequent part of the workshop.

The Banff Puppet Theatre Intensive will address elements of design (both set and puppet), scripting the silent narrative, collaborative directing, and manipulation of puppets. Participants will create individual puppets, engage in small ensembles, and, in the spirit of collective creation, create short experimental projects to be presented publicly. The workshop shall launch forth from the position that there are no right or wrong answers, but rather, through conversation and execution, that there is a way to discover the most inspired and effective solutions. The pace of this workshop is very rigourous and begs the full attendance of all participants.

Faculty: Peter Balkwill (The Old Trout Puppet Workshop)

Dates: 2013 & 2014 dates to be announced.

For details and information on how to apply please see the Banff Puppet Theatre Intensive