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!”
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”
Carved marionettes for the Little Angel Theatre’s production of The Snow Queen.
2004: “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!”
Designed, made and directed puppets for “All Change!” at The Anvil, Basingstoke: a large scale music-theatre production.
2004: “The Magic Flute”
Made more Magic Flute puppets for Opera North.
2003: Chinese marionette commission
Made a Chinese style Marionette on commission.
2003: Brandenburg Theatre Orchestra
Helped make puppets for Brandenburg Theatre Orchestra project.
2003: Opera North
John Roberts carved puppets for Opera North‘s The Magic Flute.
2002: Hands-on-Art project commission
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”
The TV show “Crafted” showed John teaching two people to make puppets.
2001: Puppet commission
Made a puppet caricature of a 10 year old, who had new trainers!
2001: Apprentice.
John Roberts took on an apprentice for 6 months, on a Europe funded project.
2000. “Year of the Artist” grant
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
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”
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
PuppetCraft went on invitation to Sweden to teach puppet design, making and performing to professional theatre practitioners.
1994: “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
Zimbabwe: two month puppet project for British Council, working with local performers and musicians.
1991: “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”
Made and directed a Christmas show for Norwich Puppet Theatre: “Hansel and Gretel”.
1990: “The Bet”
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
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.
John Roberts won a Puppet Centre/Arts Council scholarship to study the secrets of Chinese puppetry in China at the Quanzhou Puppet Troupe.