Puppet shows tell inspiring stories
Two children’s shows by innovative Scottish company Sokobauno are being put on in Shetland as part of the Puppet Animation Festival 2009.
The first show on Wednesday, Hotel Marionette, is suitable for children over five years old. Sokobauno describes the hotel as a wonderful five-star establishment where comical and bizarre cabaret puppets perform weird and wonderful acts. The audience will meet juggling marionettes, a pianist with a twist up his grand piano and a clown who just can’t keep his head on.
On Thursday Sokobauno tells the inspiring story of Iqbal the Child Weaver. Iqbal Mashi is a boy who has been sold into bonded labour at the age of four. The show recounts his heroic battle to liberate himself and others like him.
Also as part of the festival, Shetland Arts in partnership with Creative Links will be running puppet animation workshops in local schools. The company Zenwing Puppets will be taking puppet-making workshops in Whiteness Primary School and with children from the remote isles. A spokesman said the workshops aimed to enhance children’s creative skills and self esteem as well as being fun.
Emily Sharp of Shetland Arts said: “All the companies are very excited about coming up to Shetland. It’s a rare treat for families to see puppet shows of such quality in Shetland and for children to learn about puppet making and animation.”
Hotel Marionette is at the Garrison Theatre on Wednesday at 7pm, lasts 50 minutes and is suitable for children aged five and over.
Iqbal the Child Weaver is on Thursday at 7pm, lasts 55 minutes and is suitable for those eight and over.
Tickets, which cost £5/£3, are available from the Shetland Box Office on (01595) 745555.
