The Gatekeeper by Terrapin Puppet Theatre

I’m taking my kids to see The Gatekeeper as a special treat during the September school holidays.  I’ll write a review for Think Tasmania sometime after mid-September, when we have seen the show at the Theatre Royal Hobart.

In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at the media release issued by the Terrapin Puppet Show people about The Gatekeeper…

Tasmania’s Terrapin Puppet Show Theatre

The Australian innovator of puppet-based visual theatre, Terrapin Puppet Theatre, premieres the latest stage in its exploration of Digital Puppetry in September. The Gatekeeper will be performed in Triabunna, on Bruny Island and at the Theatre Royal Hobart, before touring into schools across Tasmania over six weeks.

In The Gatekeeper, Digital Puppetry techniques are used to create scenes where animated projections merge with puppets and objects, and actors interact with live projection. A world of ridiculous situations is created where clowning, puppetry, magic, acrobatics, projection and digital animation collide.

The show is about learning to live your dreams. The performance centres on the journey of Jeff, a rational, well controlled, clinical person who dreams of being a horse – or at least wild, powerful and free like a horse. The show takes place inside Jeff’s mind, where there are two characters: The Gatekeeper and Bumface, who compete to be the dominant voice in Jeff’s head. The Gatekeeper wants Jeff to change and live his dreams and Bumface wants Jeff to stay the same and love himself for what he already is. As Jeff faces personal challenges throughout the performance, he gradually moves towards wanting to live his dreams.

The show will be performed at Triabunna Hall on Wednesday 8 September, Adventure Bay Hall, Bruny Island on Thursday 9 September, and the Theatre Royal Hobart on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 September, before touring around Tasmania to over 30 schools from September 20 to October 26. Aurora Energy supports the Tasmanian tour, while the Theatre Royal and The Mercury support the public performances.

The award-winning Terrapin/Aurora partnership helps bring Tasmanian artists into the classroom, communicating not just the joy of live theatre to young Tasmanians, but also important safety messages.

Founded in 1981, Tasmania’s internationally acclaimed Terrapin Puppet Theatre tours locally, nationally and internationally and is recognised as one of the world’s premier puppetry companies.

Booking details for The Gatekeeper are available from
the Terrapin website, or phone 03 6223 6834.

Terrapin Puppet Theatre – Contact Details

For further information, please contact Kevin O’Loghlin 03 6223 6834

Hanna Pärssinen – Terrapin Gatekeeper Production Designer

My interest in the puppet show stemmed from meeting an extraordinary Tasmanian, in Hanna Parssinen.  Having seen some examples of Hanna’s work, I know she is a very talented and creative Hobart local.  Here’s Hanna’s profile from The Gatekeeper’s promotions…

Hanna is a puppetry designer and visual artist originally from Finland.  She completed her studies in painting and photography at the Academy of Visual Arts in Rotterdam in 1994 and has since been based in Hobart.  She trained in puppetry design with Terrapin under the tuition of Greg Methé and has designed, or co-designed with Methé, Terrapin productions such as The BFG (1998), Alice (1999), Blueback (2000), My Sister’s an Alien (2003) and The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip (2005).  Hanna designed Colour My World for Is Theatre Ltd. in 2002.  In 2008 Hanna collaborated with puppetry troupe Hox.Co. in Turku/Finland on an adaptation of  Picture of Dorian Gray.

Hanna creates multimedia visual art works for exhibitions and on commission.  She utilises mediums such as soft sculpture, tent sewing techniques and ice-carving.  Hanna has a passion for ice carving.  She has carved ice at competitions and events in Finland, Sweden, Japan and Tasmania.

So you can see why I am excited about seeing
The Gatekeeper Puppet Show.
Stay tuned – I’ll have photos to share soon.

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