5.15pm TODAY!
The Puppet and The Power – A discussion with Gary Friedman
21st May 2014, 5.15pm
Centre for Creative Collaboration, 16 Acton Street, London WC1X 9NG 17.15, Sponsored by British UNIMA Puppet Research Group (https://unima.org.uk/)
http://www.puppetrynews.com/the-puppet-and-the-power-documentary-film.html
Please reserve your place in advance by emailing matthew.cohen@rhul.ac.uk
Renowned Australian-based puppeteer and film-maker Gary Friedman will provide an initial glimpse of his project-in-progress, a documentary film of the relation between politics and puppetry titled The Puppet and The Power to premiere in Charleville-Mézières, France later in 2014 (http://www.puppetrynews.com/the-puppet-and-the-power-documentary-film.html).
Gary Friedman is a puppeteer, educator and producer based in Melbourne, Australia. Trained in puppetry in Charleville-Mézières, France, he headed the non-governmental organisation ʻPuppets Against Aidsʼ based in South Africa (starting in 1987), interviewed President Nelson Mandela and other politicians for ʻPuppets for Democracyʼ (starting 1994), ran the ʻPuppets in Prisonʼ education programme in South African prisons, as well as programmes such as ʻPuppets Against Corruptionʼ in Kenya and ʻPuppets Against Abuseʼ in South Africa.
After 20 years of adult educational projects, Friedman took on the production of childrenʼs television shows, including a two-hour daily show for South African Television called “School TV”. In early 2002, Friedman was awarded a ʻunique talent visaʼ by the Australian Government to reside in Australia. Here, Friedman began teaching puppetry for film and television at the Sydney Film School and puppetry in education at TAFE.
Starting in 2005, together with Occupational Therapist Sharon Gelber, Friedman conducted puppetry and creativity workshops for all ages in Europe, Canada and the United States while developing a historical documentary film and educational theatre production, ʻLooking for a Monsterʼ.
In 2009, Friedman launched Corporate Creatures in Australia, combining puppetry and humour to communicate in the business environment, and in 2010 and 2011, Friedman and Gelber embarked on puppetry for literacy education programmes in both primary and high schools, followed by international workshop tours of Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia.