Where to find puppet shows in Australia?

Please note: Here I’m discussing performance companies. If you’re looking for puppets to buy, see my post on ‘where to buy and hire puppets’; or check out ‘where to study puppetry in Australia’ (inclusive of info for workshops for schools/kids); or ‘what puppetry groups you can join‘ or where to find puppetry festivals in Australia?

Puppetry does exist, it’s just most people don’t know just how small the majority of puppetry companies are here. There are a handful of large venues for puppetry in Australia (I can think of maybe three), and a few more large companies that receive regular government funding. However, most of the puppetry companies are small and independent, with many puppeteers working by themselves or in groups with five or so people in them. For the most part, it seems that puppeteers and puppet makers freelance, do children’s shows, as well as working with the ‘larger’ companies that are established around the country.

The following is really a list of companies but (some) shows themselves are included. They’re marked clearly. I do try to post news when I hear of upcoming performances but generally speaking most companies do not have a repertoire that does not change, but you can find news of upcoming shows in the Events category.

This is not a complete list. I update it as much as possible, but I’m aware I have left a few people out. I’ll add them to the list as soon as I can. In fact, puppets are hard to find in general, so it takes me a while to find the missing links. 

Please do keep in mind that many, if not all, of the below companies tour - within their state, nationally or internationally.

ACT

• Marianne Mettes and PuppetOOdle, Canberra
  Marianne Mettes has a personal website, but also her business ‘PuppetOOdle’. She is a performer as well as builder, but at the latter website you’ll find information about her performances and workshops mostly for kids. She works in the ACT and also in NSW.

NSW

• Erth Visual and Physical Inc, Eveleigh
  Large puppets (noted for their latex dinosaurs), combined with physical theatre (circus, acrobatics, etc.). They also offer workshops.
• Gracie Productions, Rozelle
  Offers mouth puppet shows and workshops that deal with community issues, particularly child abuse and domestic violence.
• Grandan Puppets, Sydney
  Puppet shows using mostly marionettes, as far as I can tell, family friendly but with an aim towards adult shows.
• Horizon Theatre, Wiley Park
  Aimed at producing mostly shows for a young audience, Horizon combines a range of mediums including puppetry, mask, dance music, and other art forms. They also have a number of programs aimed at discussing social issues.
• The Murray Raine Puppets, Sydney
  Puppet shows and workshops (the former for both kids and adults, the latter for just kids) using marionettes.
• Marianne Mettes (see above, ACT section)
• Murphy’s Puppets, Sydney
  Children’s shows, parties and puppetry for festivals, in a range of styles.
• Puppetease, Sydney
  Mouth puppet shows for kids, schools and museums.
• Sydney Puppet Theatre, Petersham
  Children’s shows, and workshops for both adults and kids. Range of styles.

QLD

• Greentree Puppetry, Gold Coast
  Children’s shows using muppet-type puppets; themes centre around dealing with bullying and messages of safety.
• Kiddywinks Puppet Theatre, Brisbane
  Shows and workshops aimed at kids.
• Mana Puppets, Camp Mountain
  Muppet-type puppet shows for children.
• Queensland Theatre of Puppetry, Southport. *Venue, as well as touring company
  Mostly glove and rod puppets, QTOP presents performances aimed at children, with an added unusual bonus: they are one of the few small companies that has its own venue.

SA

• kneeHIGH, Adelaide
  They specialise in inflatables and giant roaming puppets, but do a range of other performances as well. They also do workshops for kids and adults, along with puppets made on commission.
• Preston’s Historic Punch and Judy, Adelaide
  Glove puppets (duh!) for children. They also have a base in Sydney, and do workshops and lectures on Punch and Judy history.
• Sue Harris Puppets, Adelaide
  Performances and workshops for both adults and children in a range of styles.

TAS

• Terrapin Puppet Theatre, Hobart. *Venue, as well as touring company
  Predominantly presents puppetry for children in a variety of styles, they also work with communities and offer workshops.

VIC

• Asphyxia, Melbourne
  One-woman company using marionettes; deaf performer.
• Corporate Creatures, Melbourne
  Provides short films for corporate situations using muppet-type puppets (Gary Friedman also runs puppetry workshops, see ‘where to study puppetry in Australia’). Also note that as of Aug 2011 Gary is no longer in Sydney but in Melbourne
• Don’t Move Puppet Theatre, Melbourne
  Children’s performances and workshops, glove puppets.
• Dream Puppets, Melbourne.
  Known for their work using blacklight puppets.
• Fairytale Puppet Theatre, Melbourne
  Children’s shows with glove puppets, also facepainting.
• Festive Factory, Woodend
  Children’s performances and workshops, also roaming puppetry.
• Gooligulch Productions, Middle Park. *Touring show, not company
  My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch seems to be the sole show this company produces; it’s not clear if this show tours nationally or just locally. It’s a musical based on a children’s book and includes puppets of Australian animals.
• LemonyS, East Brunswick
  Produces shows for adult audiences, usually during Melbourne Fringe Festivals.
• Peepshow Inc, Abbotsford
  Shows, workshops and roving puppetry for adults and for kids, range of styles.
• Polliwog Puppets, Gippsland
  Children’s and seniors (as in geriatrics, not adults) shows and workshops, mouth puppets.
• Polyglot Puppet Theatre, South Yarra. *Venue, as well as touring company
  Predominantly presents puppetry for children in a variety of styles, they also work with communities and offer workshops. Their venue is for hire.
• Purple Capsicum Puppets, Coburg
  Shows and workshops for adults and children.
• Richard Bradshaw, Melbourne
  Shadow puppet workshops and shows for adults and children.
• Snuff Puppets, Footscray
  Roaming costume puppets, workshops and shows with large costume puppets.

WA

• Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Fremantle. *Venue, as well as touring company
  Predominantly presents puppetry for children in a variety of styles, they also work with communities and offer workshops.

More?

You can find more puppeteers at UNIMA Australia, the national organisation for puppetry. You may also want to sign up for the regular emailed newsletter, OPEN; or view the OzPuppetry twitter feed for more updates on Australian shows.

You may also want to check out my post on where to find puppeteers in Australia, or the post on finding puppetry festivals in Australia. [links to be added]

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