With a shared passion for storytelling and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of their craft, Anne and David Powell have been leading figures in the world of puppetry since 1974, when they created Puppetmongers Theatre. The sibling duo have turned their love of puppets and puppetry into a thriving career that celebrates a milestone 50th anniversary this year.
Ann and David’s journey into the world of puppetry began in childhood, inspired by the rich tradition of puppet theatre in Europe and their own creative inclinations. “We had never seen a puppet show,” David recalls, “but in 1959, Ann received a Pelham Puppet poodle marionette for Christmas when she was 8, and I was 7 – yes, we are brother and sister! That marionette sparked our interest – we asked for more, we bought more, and started to put on shows for family and neighbours. We began by re-dressing puppets for the characters we needed, and eventually started making our own puppets.”
Ann and David honed their skills through formal training and hands-on experience and eventually formed Puppetmongers Theatre, a company dedicated to producing high-quality puppet theatre for all ages. Under their curatorial vision, Puppetmongers Theatre has become renowned for its unique blend of traditional techniques and contemporary themes. Puppetmongers productions feature intricately designed puppets, original scripts and innovative staging, which combine to create immersive experiences. The company’s repertoire includes a diverse range of shows – from adaptations of classic tales to original works addressing modern concerns.
The duo’s artistic vision is characterized by a deep respect for puppetry tradition, paired with a relentless drive for innovation. They believe that puppetry can convey complex emotions and ideas, even transcending the abilities of live actors. “We love stories: we love creating, planning, and building and performing,” they enthuse. At the same time, they “do not love administration, grant writing and accounting. Which take up too much of our time!”
Their work frequently explores themes of human connection, societal change, and the fantastical –and lways with a touch of humour and a deep sense of empathy. Among their notable productions are Tea at the Palace, a whimsical and historically rich performance that has delighted audiences internationally; and The Miller and His Wife, an inventive retelling of a classic folk tale that showcases the Powells’ skill in combining humor with poignant storytelling.
Reflecting on their career, Ann and David admit that “when we started playing with puppets as kids, we had no idea this would be our life-long focus. When we then started Puppetmongers in 1974, we had no idea we’d still be puppeteering 50 years later. And we still don’t really have a plan! But over the years, looking at the art scene and the small world of puppetry, we noticed gaps in puppetry training, mentoring, outreach to theatre, and fostering of the puppetry community. In response, we started the Toronto School of Puppetry, and programs such as the Puppetry eXploratory Laboratory, the Fresh Ideas in Puppetry Festival/Conference, and, most recently, the Puppetry Hive.”
Fresh Ideas in Puppetry is an annual conference which remains one of the Powells’ most significant contributions to the puppetry community. Founded to foster creativity and collaboration within the puppetry arts, the conference provides a platform for puppeteers from around the world to share their work, exchange ideas, and explore new techniques. This year’s Fresh Ideas will feature innovations and discoveries in the art of puppetry, with demonstrations, discussions, and performances by artists from across Canada, India, the UK, Mexico, Los Angeles, Spain, and Switzerland.
“We greatly enjoy encouraging exploration in the puppetry arts, and supporting next generation artists and audiences. The festival provides a platform for artists to share new works and connect with other artists, audience members and supporters in a convivial environment. It is an informal gathering. We know that this event empowers artists to further explorations with puppetry in their chosen media – and we anticipate that it will expand the audience’s and participants’ ideas of what can be done with puppets, and what puppetry can do.” They demur when asked to share expected highlights of this year’s festival: “It’s hard to suggest one over another – each presentation is so different, all with innovative ideas pushing the puppetry arts forward.”
By way of parting thoughts, Ann and David do a little mythbusting. “Common North American public misconceptions are that puppetry is for kids and is ‘Muppet’ style,” they explain. “Many of our teaching and mentoring programs have been created to address these fallacies. The big picture of puppetry in Toronto theatres includes the works of Robert Lepage, War Horse, Disney’s The Lion King, and the recent amazing Moby Dick – all are ‘puppet shows’. Some of our productions have been created for adult audiences, and for our family shows. The audiences are often adults without accompanying children.”
So after 50 years of blazing an innovative trail in the world of puppetry through Puppetmongers Theatre and the Fresh Ideas in Puppetry conference, “things are slowly changing…”
And through their vision and passion, Ann and David have nurtured a vibrant community of puppeteers – and built a legacy of creativity and collaboration – that set a stage for the next 50 years of evolution in the art of puppetry.
For a full schedule of this year’s Fresh Ideas in Puppetry and tickets, visit puppetmongers.com.
© Arpita Ghosal, SesayArts Magazine, 2024
