- THE LAND WHERE ONE NEVER DIES
This Every Old Sock Meets an Old Shoe production was presented for The Melbourne Puppetry Festival 2021 by Lemony S Puppets in association with La Mama, and with the financial assistance of Regional Arts NSW.
This work was developed through 2020 collaboratively by puppeteer/performer Kasia Pudlo and writer/puppeteer Lynn Frances Preston, culminating in a residency and community showing, with associate artist Kate McDowell in the role of Narrator, through Northern Rivers Performing Arts. This process enabled the autobiographical writing, woven as a thesis around the folktale transcribed by Italo Calvino, to become refined.
Northern Rivers Performing Arts Residency, puppeteers Kasia Pudlo & Lynn Frances Preston
Melbourne Puppetry Festival 2021, Bianca Sirrianni as narrator & puppeteers Kasia Pudlo & Lynn Frances Preston
The resulting narrative and performance centres upon the jester’s quest of the eternal; the longing to be more than a mortal, and the journey, both comical and tragic, that this takes him on. It was inspired by this same yearning in my eight-year-old daughter and was my storyteller’s answer to her, and to myself. It was also formed out of a curiosity in bonding with the folktale itself, and a thirst to be aligned with the culture of Italy.
The work was enriched by the melodies of Mikaelangelo and The Black Sea Gentlemen,
played & performed by musician Dave Evans
Melbourne Puppetry Festival 2021, puppeteers Kasia Pudlo & Lynn Frances Preston
Melbourne Puppetry Festival 2021, The Squeaking Tribe marionette.
This work was a fantastic example of contemporary puppet theatre; blending a traditional story and puppetry style within a sleek modern design and contemporary framing…
beautifully performed, combining narration with puppetry in a truly engaging way. It is a sophisticated yet assessable work for children, never dumbing down the complex issue of human mortality but still remaining light and fun and while the traditional journey structure was recognisable, the work was surprising and provoked deep reflection for the audience.
Sarah Kriegler, Co-Artistic Director Lemony S Puppets.
Melbourne Puppetry Festival 2021, narrator Bianca Sirrianni & musician Dave Evans
Melbourne Puppetry Festival 2021, puppeteers Kasia Pudlo & Lynn Frances Preston
The Land Where One Never Dies transcribed by Italo Calvino. Copyright c. 2002, The Estate of Italo Calvino, used by permission of The Wylie Agency (UK) Limited.
Folktale transcribed by Italo Calvino
Autobiographical writing by Lynn Frances Preston
Directed by Nicole Ostini
Narrator: Bianca Sirrianni
Puppeteers: Kasia Pudlo & Lynn Frances Preston
Musician & composer for the Gypsy Dance: Dave Evans
Songs: Mikelangelo & The Black Sea Gentlemen
Puppets created by: The Squeaking Tribe Marionettes
Photography by: Darren Gill & Kasia Pudlo
Next Project
- Gestural Arts on Nature
