Artist training & development
Throughout the year we offer puppetry master-classes for adults and professional artists, led by talented designers and puppetry artists.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2024
Applications are now closed for our Artist in Residence Program, 2024.
Our Artist in Residence program offers a two-week residency at Spare Parts Puppet Theatre in Fremantle and includes use of our studio space, technical equipment, workshop/making facilities, and support from company artistic and technical staff. We are excited by fearless and imaginative puppetry works that captivate and stimulate an audience emotionally and offer opportunities for greater participation, expression, and agency.
The program is open to independent artists working in puppetry and embraces exploration in creative practice and experimentation. Projects may be in their early stages or may have already undergone some development and can be for any audience. Spare Parts Puppet Theatre will contribute financially to the costs of the project up to $2500.
Priority will be given to Western Australian artists, and projects that show potential to be developed for presentation by Spare Parts in future will be given special consideration.
Join our mailing list at the bottom of the page to be the first to know when we’re accepting applications again.
After a highly competitive application process, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre has chosen to support two individuals with our 2024 Artist in Residence program. Read more here.
Tertiary partnerships
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts offers Puppetry Training to Students
Since 2015, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre partnered with the Western Australian Performing Arts Academy (WAAPA) to offer a puppetry and visual theatre unit as part of the Bachelor of Performing Arts degree, giving students the opportunity to explore puppetry training as part of their course.
Dr Frances Barbe, previous Course Coordinator at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts said that she was very excited to be incorporating puppetry into the training of the performance-making students.
“Puppetry is a great training tool to sensitise performers to the full potential of objects in performance and to develop the visual intelligence of our performance-makers,” she said.
“Through their work with Spare Parts, our students will become more visual storytellers who understand the power of the image and metaphor in performance as well as the power of the word. Puppetry is evolving in all kinds of interesting ways in contemporary theatre and performance. We are so lucky to have a company like Spare Parts here on our doorstep, and I look forward to building on this exciting partnership in the future”.
the murmuration of lost birds
Directed by: Michael Barlow
Devised and Performed by: 3rd Year Performance Making students
In the tenth year of an inspiring partnership, WAAPA 3rd Year Performance Making students collaborate with Spare Parts’ Associate Director Michael Barlow to breathe life into a new visual theatre work.
On the wing, in a cage, racing against a dying light, or tied with a chain, the voices of the lost birds fill the night. They watch the world with unknowable eyes and secrets folded between their flocking feathers. This collection of stories traces their journeys around the globe, to the skies, home.
Please note: This production is not suitable for children; recommended age 15+
Performance Details
Venue:
Victoria Hall, 179 High St, Fremantle
Performance Dates:
8th Nov 7:00pm , 9th Nov 2:00pm , 9th Nov 7:00pm
Ticketing Information:
$20 – Full
$15 – WAAPA Concession
MasterClasses
Our 2024 Masterclass has now come to an end. Stay tuned for 2025!
Throughout the year we offer puppetry workshops for adults, led by talented designers and puppetry artists.
Sign up to our mailing list below to stay up to date with all the latest training and learning opportunities.
Find out about more adult or professional workshops!
To stay up to date with our Training and Development opportunities, sign up to our mailing list below.
