John M. Blundall 1937-2014
I met John in the autumn of 1962, at St Gabriel’s Hall Pimlico, the then home of The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild. I had become a member, and had been going to meetings once week after school. Talking with him he told me his job was working at AP films. The home of Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray, and Thunderbirds. And at the end of the evening, he gave me a picture of the lead character’s from Fireball XL5. Taking the picture to school the next day, I was the hero of my class. With young people, John never talked down but always listened as if you were his equal, encouraging new ways that puppetry might be performed, but always acknowledging past puppeteers achievements. We became friends, and it didn’t take long for him to find out that my ambition was to become a professional puppeteer. Taking this on board, He took me to meet AR Philpott, and his wife Violet, in Southampton place the home of The Educational Puppetry Association. EPA as it was known, not listening properly I thought I was visiting AP films, no it was a basement, full of materials for building puppets, I had no interest in puppet building, but in the same room was a glove puppet stage, with puppets, scenery and props. Pantopuck, (AR Philpotts stage name) I called him “Panto” along with many of his friends. Allowed me to play and put on shows, John, Violet and Panto became my first professional tutors. John also at this time took me to Theatre, Dance, and Old Time Music Hall as well Circus and Mime shows I met many of the performers with him backstage, and to my surprize they were his friends. John paid for me to watch and learn from these performances. His generosity was endless. On leaving school, he Violet and Panto visited my parents and persuaded them that it would be right for me to except an apprenticeship with John Wright at The Little Angel Theatre. The only building adapted for puppets in London. A few months later John Violet, Panto, Glyn Edwards, Gordon Deaville and I went to Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia. For an International Puppet Festival. A wonderful and exciting time for us all.
I went onto work with the Hogarth Puppets, famous for performing Muffin the Mule. John visited us keeping an eye on me I’m sure. I went on to work with other puppet company’s. And after a short time working with Violet Philpott’s Cap and Bells Puppet Company, John asked me if I would come and work with him at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham. I had visited the centre with John before his puppet company was established. John at that time introduced me to Gerald Morice, Waldo and Muriel Lanchester, icons of the early English puppet theatre. Of course I accepted his invitation, and had an amazing year performing in at least 5 productions. I joined the company as assistant to the puppet master. Which meant when time allowed helping the puppeteers with any difficulties they had in operating there puppets, and assisting John in whatever was required to make the performance a success. The Show was Cinderella. I played 3 parts in the play, along with the other members of the cast who also had more than one role. Each of the 5 productions I worked on was very different from each other. Typical of John as he never wanted to repeat a look of a show, and liked to introduce different types of puppet to puppeteers and audiences alike. Puppetry from many countries influenced John, but probably the puppet theatre from Eastern Europe and Japan interested him most. His meeting with Sergei Obraztsov director of the Moscow State Puppet Theatre and Monjuro Kiritaki director of the National Bunraku Theatre of Japan were probably his biggest influences.
After the year with John I was invited back to the Little Angel Theatre. And from there to work on Television programmes, commercials and films. As well as co-founding the London School of Puppetry.
When John went to live in Glasgow, and established The World through Wooden Eyes at The Mitchell Library. I was lucky to visit him and his award winning assistant Stephen Foster. John’s huge and valuable collection of books and puppets from all over the world is on view to all who wants to learn the art of puppetry. Sharing time with both John and Stephen brought back so many memories. When as a young boy John encouraged me to become a professional puppeteer, nurturing and mentoring my progress right up to his untimely death. And to that end I will be always grateful.
Ronnie Le Drew.