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Home Arts View |
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Spotlight on Puppetry |
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November 2002
Volume 3, Issue 2
Interview with Peter Wilson, Victorian Arts Centre's Senior
Creative Fellow
Australia's most outstanding puppeteer and visual theatre artist,
Peter Wilson, was appointed as a Senior Creative Fellow to the
Victorian Arts Centre in January 2002. This initiative is designed
to provide leadership to the art form, strengthen relations
with other arts organisations, as well as generate benefits
for Arts Centre staff and creative programming.
You have been working at the Victorian Arts Centre since January
as the Senior Creative Fellow, what have you been focusing on
during this time?
"There are four key areas I've been working on. Establishing
the first puppet curriculum - to be taught at VCA, I'm hoping
to have the course approved by May next year. I'm writing a
book about puppetry and visual theatre in Australia (working
title 'The space between - The art of puppet and visual theatre
in Australia'). Directing the Puppetry and Animatronics Summit
for the Victorian Arts Centre and Melbourne Festival in October.
Working towards a new national puppetry company being established."
It has been a few years since you lived in Melbourne, what are
your impressions of Melbourne's cultural activity? Have things
changed?
"It has changed. I've also changed. I've been observing the
energy in this town - for me, I'm waiting for the new wave and
new energy to come through. Reconnecting with festivals like
Fringe, Comedy Festival and Next Wave, as well as Melbourne
artists has been great.
Being appointed as the Victorian Arts Centre Senior Creative
Fellow has put me back in touch with Melbourne artists and some
exciting partnerships are emerging."
Is there one thing you haven't had time or money to complete
this year? If so, what is it?
"Yes there is. I want to spend the last couple of months of
the Fellowship developing new work. I have plans to develop
new works with the MTC and the Australian Ballet. I am also
hoping to bring some artists in, and physically get down on
the floor and workshop ideas."
Can you name a highlight for the year?
"One of the highlights will be the International Puppetry and
Animatronics Summit at the Victorian Arts Centre. There is going
to be a buzz around here when it's on (25, 26 and 27 October
2002). Being given the opportunity to implement all of these
ideas, is a highlight."
Are there particular outcomes you would like to see develop
as a result of the Summit?
"More opportunities for exchange between puppeteers, designers
and makers. To create a more prominent public profile for puppetry,
letting people know that there is plenty going on. The ultimate
would be to see new companies established."
What is your vision for the art form of puppetry in years to
come?
"I would like to see an international puppetry festival hosted
here in Melbourne in 2004/2005. And opening up ideas, exchange
and debate. They are the kind of things I would like to see."
Your position as Senior Creative Fellow will end in December?
Where to next?
"I'll be directing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Fish' for the 2003
Sydney Festival. In mid-January I'm going to Japan to direct
a work titled 'A World of Paper' with Theatre Kazenoko. In February
I'll take 'Twinkle Twinkle' to the New Victory Theatre in New
York.
I'll return to Melbourne to continue work on the book on puppetry
in Australia. I also have five ideas that I wish to develop,
I'm hopeful these will be staged throughout 2003/2004. In July,
I'll be in Japan again, this time in Nagoya, with Japanese company,
Urinko, working on 'Moon Play'."
Kerry Noonan, publicist with the Victorian Arts Centre, interviewed
Peter Wilson. |
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