Commissions

2009: Alexandr the Meercat puppet

PuppetCraft made an Alexandr the Meercat puppet for the ‘Compare the Meercat’ campaign. The press have published lots of articles about PuppetCraft’s involvement.
Click to have a look:
Herald Express.
Swns news.
Metro.

2008: “Brains” Drench TV advert


PuppetCraft made and performed a “Brains” puppet for a well-know TV advert for Drench.

2007: “Give us a Hand!”

Give us a Hand John Wright

Directed “Give us a Hand!” for the Little Angel Theatre, written by Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen.
A celebration of the puppetry of John Wright who founded Little Angel Theatre in 1961 and would have reached his 100th birthday this year.

“…impeccable show … seamlessly glued together” The Stage

“a stimulating concoction … and a fascinating showcase for the skills of these accomplished puppeteers” TimeOut

2006: “The Snow Queen”

Gerda from Snowqueen

Carved marionettes for the Little Angel Theatre’s production of The Snow Queen.

2004: “Venus and Adonis”

Venus and Adonis

Carved puppets for The Little Angel Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company production of “Venus and Adonis”- an adult puppet masque.

2004: “All Change!”

All ChangeAll ChangeAll ChangeAll ChangeAll Change

Designed, made and directed puppets for “All Change!” at The Anvil, Basingstoke: a large scale music-theatre production.

2004: “The Magic Flute”

The Magic FluteOpera North Magic Flute

Made more Magic Flute puppets for Opera North.

2003: Chinese marionette commission

Chinese marionette commission

Made a Chinese style Marionette on commission.

2003: Brandenburg Theatre Orchestra

Brandenburg Theatre Orchestra

Helped make puppets for Brandenburg Theatre Orchestra project.

2003: Opera North

The Magic FluteThe Magic FluteThe Magic Flute

John Roberts carved puppets for Opera North‘s The Magic Flute.

2002: Hands-on-Art project commission

Hands-on-Art project

John was commissioned to make an interactive puppet, with moving head, arms, legs and interchangeable face parts, for a Hands-on-Art project.

2002: T.V. programme “Crafted”

Crafted

The TV show “Crafted” showed John teaching two people to make puppets.

2001: Puppet commission

Puppetry Commission

Made a puppet caricature of a 10 year old, who had new trainers!

2001: Apprentice.

PuppetCraft apprentice

John Roberts took on an apprentice for 6 months, on a Europe funded project.

2000. “Year of the Artist” grant

Year of the Artist

Awarded an “Year of the Artist” grant to run residencies in rural villages, as part of the national program. Worked with Ian Wellens, composer.

1996: Consultant at the Haydn Festival in Austria

Haydn Festival in Austria

Technical and lighting consultant for a puppet opera at the Haydn Festival in Austria, with Trevor Pinnock’s English Concert orchestra and The Little Angel Theatre.

1995: Jim Henson’s Creature Shop’s “The Adventures of Pinocchio”

The Adventures of Pinocchio

Consultant and maker for the film “The Adventures of Pinocchio” – carving a marionette used by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop as a “model” for Pinocchio.

1994 and 1995: Sweden puppet design tour

Carving tools

PuppetCraft went on invitation to Sweden to teach puppet design, making and performing to professional theatre practitioners.

1994: “Rupert and the Green Dragon”

Rupert and the Green Dragon

Designed, made and directed puppets for David Wood’s “Rupert and the Green Dragon” which toured nationally in large theatres.

1993: British Council puppet project

British Council puppet project

Zimbabwe: two month puppet project for British Council, working with local performers and musicians.

1991: “The Dancer Hotoke”

The Dancer Hotoke

John Roberts designed, made and directed the title role life-size puppet for Covent Garden Royal Opera. Nominated for the Lawrence Olivier Awards for outstanding achievement.

1991: “Hansel and Gretel”

Hansel and Gretel

Made and directed a Christmas show for Norwich Puppet Theatre: “Hansel and Gretel”.

1990: “The Bet”

The Bet Puppetry Commission

PuppetCraft designed, directed and made a contemporary puppet-music-drama -“The Bet” presented in London at the South Bank, Almeida Theatre, in Norwich and at the Huddersfield International Contemporary Music Festival. Music by Erika Fox, text by Elaine Feinstein. Performed by the Feinstein Quartet, a narrator and 2 puppeteers.

“Puppet theatre and contemporary music go together like silent movies and busking at the piano. The Bet premiered at the Purcell Room deserves to start a trend”. Independent

1980 -1990: Deputy Director of the Little Angel Puppet Theatre

Little Angel Puppet Theatre Islington London

John was Deputy Director of the Little Angel Puppet Theatre in London for 10 years, making, performing and coordination tours to international festivals.

1986 -1987: Chinese Quanzhou Puppet Troupe scholarship.

Chinese puppetry scholarship

John Roberts won a Puppet Centre/Arts Council scholarship to study the secrets of Chinese puppetry in China at the Quanzhou Puppet Troupe.

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