- 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. 

Bold black stylized text spelling 'norpa' on a white background.
Three marionette puppets resembling a woman with a hat and white dress, a lion, and a jester in red costume, set against a black background.
A simple line drawing of a dog with a collar, standing on its hind legs, reaching towards falling objects, with the name 'Lemony S' written at the bottom.
Logo of Regional Arts NSW featuring black and white abstract design with text
Logo with a circular fruit graphic divided into four sections and the words 'LA MAMA' written in bold, playful font.

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.

Two puppeteers manipulate marionette puppets on a puppet theater stage with dark surroundings, illuminated by a focused light.

Northern Rivers Performing Arts Residency, puppeteers Kasia Pudlo & Lynn Frances Preston

Three women are engaged in a puppet show indoors; one woman sits on a box with a smile, another is bending forward controlling a marionette puppet, and the third woman is partially visible on the right side. The scene is illuminated with red lighting.

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

Two women operate puppets on a puppet theater stage illuminated with purple light.

Melbourne Puppetry Festival 2021, puppeteers Kasia Pudlo & Lynn Frances Preston

Person's hands manipulating a marionette puppet in pink lighting, with a colorful backdrop and abstract stage props.
Marionette puppet of a puppet character with a long nose, glasses, and dressed in colorful, patchwork clothing, holding a microphone, against a pinkish-red background.

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.

A woman with curly dark hair, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and a dusty pink apron, is kneeling on the floor and speaking animatedly with her hands clenched into fists. Behind her is a large glass window with a pinkish-red hue cast over the scene, and small cardboard houses are visible in the background.

Melbourne Puppetry Festival 2021, narrator Bianca Sirrianni & musician Dave Evans

Two puppeteers operate shadow puppets on a stage with purple and pink lighting. One puppeteer is standing and the other is kneeling, manipulating puppets including a woman in white, a red cart with a pig, and a small doll with glasses.

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

Close-up of a person wearing a recycled plastic dress with pleated details, draped white fabric, and holding a clear plastic walking cane.