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PotatoRoom productions

created by Gavin Glover formerly from FaultyOptic Theatre of Animation

teaching/workshops and training offered

1. Micro Cinema Theatre - live video camera and performance for all performers.
2. Acting the Puppet - puppet manipulation skills
3. NASTY Puppetry - more advanced puppet animation
4. Puppets and the camera - explore contemporary puppetry, live camera and pre recorded animation

 

 

MICRO CINEMA THEATRE
Video camera and performance workshop by Gavin Glover

By using video and cctv cameras, projectors and simple technology, we can explore objects, puppets and the human body to discover a new type of cinema. Combine these discoveries with the more traditional forms of performance and we can create 'Micro Cinema Theatre'.

During this practical workshop we will be using a multitude of objects and materials and constructing environments to film and improvising performance.
We will explore hidden movements and unlock tiny details that are normally lost in a theatre space and we will play with scale, focus, light, sound and music and explore 2 and 3 dimensional worlds. Some objects have more metaphor and meaning than others so we will try to discover which materials work best for the story we are trying to tell.

This course is normally for 20-35 hours and is suitable for puppeteers, actors, musicians, film makers, film animators, writers and directors. 12 maximum

See dates for workshops

Quotes from previous Micro Cinema Theatre workshop participants:

- This was a very valuable, well lead and resourced workshop. The techniques shared and the context in which we were invited to explore them collaboratively, was very well thought out and inspiring.

- After a brief introduction we began playing, making and experimenting pretty much straight away, and the possibilities inherent in the technology became immediately apparent. The focus on theatre-making meant the learning had immediate application for my practice.

- My usual issue is to over think a bit. So working fast was good.

- The workshop offered new insights into ways of performing with live video and microcinema, something I had not experimented with before. It is an excellent device that I will certainly use in the future! In fact I already have a couple of little cameras for my upcoming project this summer! 

- I found the Micro Cinema Theatre workshop very accessible and immensely rewarding. The simplicity of the technical format - CCTV cameras and projectors, gave room to explore traditional forms of theatre. The experience gained of improvising upon a loosely formatted framework exploring 2 and 3 dimension forms combined with everyday materials created an inventive space where creativity flourished.
I believe the techniques taught in the workshop would greatly benefit all practitioners in the fields of Theatre, Design and Live music performances.

 

ACTING THE PUPPET
Puppet manipulation workshop led by
Gavin Glover

This is Gavin Glover's original puppet manipulation workshop. Looking at how we move our own bodies as the initial inspiration, this workshop will explore the ways in which a puppet can walk and run and fall over and how it can apparently have feelings, reactions and even a sense of humour!

We will improvise and play theatre games to examine the extent to which a puppet can perform theatrically without text and we will discover whether the puppet can be as expressive as any actor.

This workshop can be for 3 hours or up to 5 days and suitable for all performers and theatre creatives.14 maximum

See dates for workshops

 
 

NASTY Puppetry
Actor and Puppet workshop led by Gavin Glover

Gavin Glover has always worked in the more disturbing side of contemporary puppet theatre.
He has made and coached ghosts for the National Theatre of Scotland and trained foul-mouthed pterodactyls for the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, he has toured his 'fabulously dark' style of work all over the world with the cult company Faulty Optic Theatre of Animation. He has developed puppet manipulation workshops, 'hands on' and 'hands off' puppetry techniques and a live video camera workshop entitled Micro Cinema Theatre. 
Amongst his influences are the surreal film animators Jan Svankmejer, the Quay Brothers, film maker David Lynch and Polish theatre maker Tadeaus Kantor. 
With an unsettling similarity to their work, Gavin's puppetry work fits rather too easily into these worlds.
So he has developed a new workshop to explore the darker side of puppetry by giving the puppet the space and the power to dominate the stage.

This masterclass is suitable for all inquisitive performers: 
Actors, dancers, puppeteers, physical theatre practitioners, film makers, directors

The Workshop

Developed over the last couple of years, the workshop focuses on the performer AND the puppet. Puppetry experience is absolutely NOT necessary, it's really suitable for any performer, those in physical theatre, acting, dance, clown and of course puppeteers.

As a starting point we will work with some traditional puppetry techniques using mid to life sized puppets. However we’ll quickly throw these conventions out of the window and start to experiment with different approaches to the performer handling, carrying and dropping the puppet. We will examine the relationship of performer with living puppet-character and non-living puppet-object through some slightly disturbing scenarios to look at how the puppet and its treatment can evoke empathy and emotion.
I will be bringing puppets but feel free to bring a puppet or two if you would like to experiment with them. Anything goes. It will be a safe space for experimentation, the puppets will answer back, even fight back but above all they will stand up for themselves

See dates for workshops

 

 

 

Puppet manipulation techniques
Directing of actor and puppet
Body training for actor and puppeteer
Live video camera work and projections
Puppet making skills

Suitable for students and professionals

 

Techniques de manipulation de marionnettes
Metteur en scène d'acteurs et de marionnettes
Entraînement physique de l'acteur-marionnettiste
Vidéo: caméras en direct et projections
Fabrication de marionnettes

Accessible aux étudiants et aux professionnels

     
 
 

Student Tournai 2011 (translation)

This course was a great satisfaction for me, and a reconciliation between the training and learning. I wanted to give a lot of myself in this course and I was happy that I was a little lost but happy with everything I have learned.
I don’t just want to work with live video now because there are so many different things that I have discovered that has made me think and reflect. It has given me ideas, not only with this technique, but new things that have opened up other paths.

The manipulation exercises of the puppets were straightforward, but necessary and accurate. They made me think about my presence as a manipulator, and as an actor. All in good time, every action must wait for the next moment, the answer and the reaction.

 

 

Un étudiant Tournai 2011

Ce stage c’était pour moi une grande satisfaction, et une réconciliation avec les formations et les apprentissages. J’ai repris une confiance en moi que j’avais un peu perdue. Je voulais donner beaucoup de moi-même dans ce stage, et c’est ce qui s’est passé, je suis content de tout ce que j’ai appris. Et ce n’est pas que maintenant j’ai envie de travailler juste la caméra en direct et la vidéo, mais il y a tant de choses différentes que j’ai découvertes et qui me font penser et réfléchir, qui me donnent des idées, pas seulement avec cette technique, mais qui ouvrent d’autres chemins.

Les exercices, la manipulation des marionnettes étaient simples, mais nécessaires et précis. Ils m’ont fait penser à ma présence en tant que manipulateur, et comédien. Chaque chose en son temps, chaque action doit attendre pour le moment d’après, la réponse, la réaction.

 

Host organisations

ESNAM Charleville-Mézières. France
Central School of Speech and Drama. London
Royal Holloway, University of London
London International Mime Festival. London
National Theatre of Scotland, Glasgow
Puppet Animation Scotland, Edinburgh
Royal Conservatoire Scotland, Glasgow
Curious School of Puppetry, Edinburgh
Manipulate Festival, Edinburgh
Norwich Puppet Theatre UK
Vincent Dance Theatre, Sheffield. UK
Solar Bear Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland
AQM Montréal. Quebec
UQAM University of Quebec
Casteliers Festival, Montreal, Quebec
Espace Catastrophe, Brussels, Belgium
Maison de la Marionnette, Tournai, Belgium
Het Firmament, Mechelen, Belgium
Kulturinsel Halle Puppentheater, Germany
Figuren Theater Koleg, Bochum, Germany
Tarumba Marionettes, Lisbon Portugal
Unima Spain, Segovia
Junta de Andalucia, Granada, Spain
MAAF Pinerolo. Italy
La Capra Ballerina, Acqupendente, Italy
Karlsson Haus Theatre, Saint Petersbourg, Russia
Little Angel Theatre. London
The Complex, Dublin