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REPERTOIRE
has included:-
SHAKTI
is present in all things. Myths of the Hindu Goddess
provided inspiration for this drama of the creative and
destructive energy of nature.
On a large screen the shadow player creates colourful,
changing shadow images using body, masks, puppets and
objects. The shadows merge with evocative video
projections of nature from the Yorkshire landscape.
This ground-breaking fusion of shadow and video
incorporated Indian dancers with accompaniment by an
original music composition combining Indian themes and
instruments with driving, modern beats.
Projections, an accompanying workshop in shadow play with video projection.
PUPPET
PLAYLETS
Entertainment providing an introduction to the fantastic
range and technique of puppetry with hand, rod, string and
shadow puppets. Including puppets made in front of the
audience, original hand crafted puppets and puppets from
many different countries around the world.
LAKSHMI AND
THE WASHERWOMAN
Once a year at Divali, people all over India put lamps in
their windows and doorways, to welcome Laksmi, the goddess
of wealth and good fortune, into their
homes.
Through innovative shadow theatre combined with powerful
storytelling, this simple Indian folk story brings home
the true meaning of wealth. Using front projection,
iIntricate, decorated cut-outs and a portable shadow
light, the puppeteer manipulates the puppets and tells the
story in view of the audience.
THE SHADOW
HOUSE
A 2 metre cube frame covered with material to make a dark
interior provides an environment in which small groups of
young children are guided in an exploration of light, dark
and shadows. They discover, observe and become familiar
with their own changing shadows, use different materials
to create patterns, coloured shadows and reflections and
create shadow pictures and plays with everyday objects.
THE SNOW QUEEN
Changing puppet sets, projected shadow theatre and
original hand-crafted table-top and glove puppets ~ all
bound together by strong story-telling adapted from Hans
Anderson’s classic tale.
With live music on fiddle, flute, drums and varied
percussion.
OOCHIGEASKW
An adaptation of the native American Cinderella story,
using table –top puppets. This show featured in the
BBC’s children’s programme “Readabout” with a performance
at the local school and documenting the research and
making which went into the creation of the puppet play.
THE NIGHT
VISITORS
“All of a sudden there’s a knock at the door. Who
can it be, who is it for?”
A Victorian melodrama in traditional shadow theatre with
strong, rhyming narration.
THE CAT WHO
WALKED BY HIMSELF
A shadow play adapted from Rudyard Kipling's
tale. With colourful laminated shadow puppets.
JACK AND THE
BEANSTALK
When Jack makes a bargain with the old man he says yes to
adventure. This well-loved tale is the longest
running of Diana’s shows. A lively and colourful
performance using original hand-crafted, table top puppets
with audience participation.
THE RAMAYANA
Dance/Puppetry Collaboration
In collaboration with Annapurna
Dance. The epic story told through Bharatnatyam
dancers, traditional shadow theatre, puppetry and
masks. With live music by visiting Indian musicians.
INDIAN MONSOON
A collaboration with visiting Indian Kathak dancers and
musicians to present some of the stories of Krisna through
dance, Indian marionettes and innovative shadow theatre,
including body shadows.
Black Cat has undertaken many different kinds of puppetry residencies and commissions to create performances, puppets or puppetry projects. Here are just a few examples:-
Valentino
www.cusantheatre.com
The perfect dancing partner for Columbian Salsa dancer
Tanya Cusan ~ a full human size puppet.
The Rain
Forest Princess
Another life-size puppet for Tanya's show The Princess of the Rain Forest.
HIV Education
Puppetry Project
For Bradford Health Promotion, to bring awareness of basic
health issues and provide an introduction to the HIV virus
to primary school children. We devised, built and
delivered a performance, ‘The Germ Affair’ and workshops
on health issues around HIV.
"I was impressed by how complex and
potentially contentious issues were approached in a way
which was relevant to the children and which succesfully
gained their attention and interest. The afternoon
workshops served both to reinforce the information
presented in the puppet show and to introduce the
children to techniques of shadow puppet-making."
Holy Trinity C. of E. First School,
Bradford
Home Safety
Puppet Project
For Bradford Community Environment Project, devised, built
and delivered a puppetry production on safety in the home
for Asian children and families in Bradford schools.
The BFG
Puppets and large heads for a Birmingham Theatre, later
sold on to another theatre.
And a few examples of the many successful residencies undertaken by Black Cat Theatre:-
International
High School, Brussels
Performance of the Ramayana and workshops on making
traditional Indian leather shadow puppets and shadow
theatre techniques for Performing Arts students.
South Wirral
High School Arts Celebration week.
Shadow puppet workshops with Year 9 students on the theme
of peace.
Pallantine
High School, Blackpool Puppet Up’
festival
1st prize for ‘Pandora’ parade puppets made with students
Keighley Join
Project
Artists collaboration for special needs adults using
video, shadow theatre, music.
Chelmsford Council Arts Development Workshops in schools with “Ramayana” performances in The Cramphorn Theatre
Creative Practitioner One month residency at Hilltop School, Doncaster to deliver aspects of the National Curriculum through puppetry and drama
Puppet Playlets
Laksmi and the Washerwoman
The Snow Queen
Oochigeaskw
The Night Visitors
The Cat who walked by Himself
Jack and the Beanstalk
Valentino
The Forest Princess
HIV Project
Big Friendly Giant
Puppet up - Parade Puppets