Festivals & Events
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre offers extraordinary performances perfectly suited to your special event.
From large scale interactive puppets, to experiential interactive works, roving entertainment that will interact with your crowds, to puppet making workshops for families to share together, we have something to suit your next special event. We are also able to work with schools or community groups to create works of scale for your event.
Spare Parts Puppet Theatre has entertained crowds with our event works across the globe including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and at events such as the Horizon Festival, Arts Centre Melbourne, WA Day Festival, Joondalup Festival, Mandurah Arts Festival, Avon Descent Family Fun Day, Araluen’s Chilli Festival, and the York Festival.
Our Festival and Event Works
STRING SYMPHONY
String Symphony is a large scale interactive sculptural installation that invites everyone to be a puppeteer.
This giant illuminated puppet-installation will be a focal point of any event, creating a hub of activity, excitement and wonder. String Symphony is a shared, multi- sensory experience suitable for all ages that celebrates connection, community and collaboration.
When people discover the giant handcrafted marionette suspended within a network of ropes, it is up to them to give it life.
Created by Leon Hendroff, String Symphony was originally commissioned by City of Joondalup.
SUITABILITY
Hard, flat floor space of 10m Width x 10m Depth x 6m Height, and access to power
The total box truss dimensions are; 6m Height x 5m Width x 5m Depth
DURATION
Performed in 40-minute sets
The Hive
Calling all worker bees, drones and nurse bees, your Queen awaits!
Join our beekeepers for a hive of crafty activity. A busy bee of making, flying and playing in this immersive interactive journey from flower to pollination!
The Hive explores themes of connection, teamwork, and sustainability. It teaches young people and adults alike the process of pollination and the importance of the hardworking bees coming together as a community for a common goal.
Presented byGo for 2&5
SUITABILITY
Large Scale Site (indoor or outdoor)
If outdoors, ability to peg into grass preferred.
Access to power required.
DURATION
Free-flow format. Approx. 30-45 minute audience experience combining puppet making workshops and performance. Run for minimum 3 hour sessions.
THE LAST NUMBAT
The Last Numbat is a large-scale, interactive performance installation that uses puppetry to explore connection with each other and the sustainability of our natural environment.
What if you thought you were the last of your kind? The Last Numbat believes she may be the last numbat in the world! As she bravely ventures out to explore the world beyond the safety of the log she calls home, you are invited to help tell her story. Twelve audience members will bring the Numbat to life as they become puppeteers and learn to manipulate this large-scale marionette.
Commissioned by the City of South Perth.
SUITABILITY
Hard, flat floor space of 22.7m Width x 23m Depth x 7m Height, and access to power
The total box truss dimensions are; 5m Height x 5m Width x 10m Depth
DURATION
Performed in 30-minute sets
GALILEO AND CELESTE
Meet Galileo and Celeste, giant and mysterious ancient figures that will grab your attention and engage your imagination with their impressive stature and mystique. These oversized and intriguing forms roam amongst the crowd – moving slowly, very slowly in a fast-paced world. A horn calls, making you pause and look deeper into the impressive carapaces, here you are transported to another world, suspended in time and space.
Experience the joy of slowing down with this interactive blend of puppetry, performance and sculpture.
Galileo and Celeste is commissioned by the City of Greater Geraldton and the City of Joondalup.
SUITABILITY
Outdoor or large-scale flat performance site.
Docking station
Change rooms/space for performers
DURATION
Performed in 30-minute sets
BROLGA
Named after the Australian Crane, Brolga is a set of two sparkling roving rod controlled bird puppets that move gracefully above a crowd.
As curious creatures they enjoy to interact with people and will delight onlookers with their intricate and ritualized dance. Each brolga is expertly handled by two puppeteers.
SUITABILITY
Outdoor or large-scale performance site.
Change rooms/space for performers
DURATION
Performed in 40-minute sets
THE GREAT AUSSIE SHEEP MUSTER
It’s the annual sheep muster and there is quite a mob to be mustered. But it is not sheep being mustered here it is the sheep mustering those stockmen.
Don’t be fooled by those sheepish eyes – this is one smart flanny boot wearing muster.
Get on the Long Paddock and enjoy this frolicking fun filled muster. This work is ideal to be teamed with sheep puppet making workshops, with an optional ‘best in show’ presentation.
SUITABILITY
Outdoor or large-scale performance site.
Change rooms/space for performers
DURATION
Performed in 30-minute sets
STRING DUET
Sit face to face with a puppeteer and bring to life the marionette between you
This is a work for one audience member at a time. A collaborative performance and meditation on connection. Sit face to face with a puppeteer and bring to life the marionette between you through movement, the puppet’s self-generating soundscape and the connection between the two individuals through the puppet’s strings.
SUITABILITY
A darkened 2m x 2m floor space
Shelter from the sun
Access to power
Space for performer
The built up puppet frame dimensions are; Height 1500mm x Width 600mm x Depth 575mm
DURATION
Performed in 40-minute sets. Each interaction lasts approximately 3 minutes.
AQUASAPIENS
Handpainted by Shaun Tan, AquaSapiens are advanced sea creatures disguised (very badly) as humans, on a mission to discover if there is intelligent life in the above water world. The cheeky and curious AquaSapiens roam around investigating human activity.
Aquasapiens is a flexible format performance piece that can be presented with varying components, allowing us to tailor the scale of the show to suit your spatial and budgetary requirements. It is possible to purchase anything from a scaled-down version with only one performer through to a full performance using 3 large scale puppets, a water-spraying pod and Bruce, the Aquasapien hunting extraordinaire.
SUITABILITY
Outdoor or large-scale performance site with minimum space measurements of 20m x 20m
Flat and hard ground surfaces are preferred (concrete, stone, bitumen)
Access to a water tap and an electrical outlet.
DURATION
Costs include 2 x 40-minute performances, with a break of 1.5 hours between each show. A minder and a stage manager must accompany.
TRANSFIGURATIONS
Amongst the busy crowd roam strange creatures. Sightless and silent, these interactive shape-shifters morph as they explore the world around them.
Will you explore with them?
Mysterious, playful, curious, and gentle, an encounter with Transfigurations will leave you wanting more…
SUITABILITY
10m x 10m floor space
Change rooms/space for performers
DURATION
Performed in 30-minute sets
Free-Flow Workshops
Puppet making workshops can be a great hands-on activity to be enjoyed by children and their families. We are able to run free-flow workshops that can be tailored to your event and the best part is the children get to take home their puppet as a memento.
Our workshop tutors are all professional performers or designers and have been trained to present workshops that will have children brainstorming, creating, making and performing.
For more information about Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s available festival and events works view our PDF below
Event expression of interest
To discuss these performances, our tours, or other ways puppetry can enrich your event or venue, please call us or email.