FAMILIES in Balranald are set to be delighted by a free puppet show at Balranald Library next Monday.
Puppeteers from Shake Shake Theatre will be in town to perform The Story of Mr B, which begins at 10am on Monday.
The show, part of the New South Wales Government’s Reconnecting Community Events funding program, is also supported by Outback Theatre for Young People.
South West Arts executive director Kerryanne Jones said the Reconnecting Community Events funding aimed to bring communities back together.
“This particular funding was all about bringing people together and reconnecting after the pandemic,” she said.
“Then we all got hit by the floods at the end of last year, so it’s a doubly important opportunity.
“We’ve been able to bring quite a few of these opportunities to the region, with this one focused on the kids and families.
“It’s a really nice way for young children and families to come together. We’ve all had a pretty tough time recently so it’s a great way to enable us all to come together.”
Ms Jones said she thought puppetry was an art that could bring together people across the age divide.
“We all love puppets,” she said. “I think it’s all about the animation side of things, bringing a fictional story to life in the physical realm.
“It takes me back to the days of The Muppets and Sesame Street that I loved as a child. All generations relate to puppets.”
Shake Shake Theatre puppeteer Jessica Nicholls said puppetry was a field for the imagination.
“A puppet has the ability to engage with children in a special way that is comfortable, unobtrusive and fun,” she said.
“Puppet theatre allows for any sort of imaginary world to come to life. Trees can talk, objects can change form and shape, illusions can become real and visible to the eye.
“With clever puppets, creative lighting techniques, amazing sets and so many varied shows and performers, puppetry brings children the chance to see the impossible come to life.”
The pair behind Shake Shake Theatre only recently moved to Australia from Berlin and Nicholls said the opportunity to tour regionally was an exciting prospect.
“This will be our first tour to regional towns in Australia,” she said. “We are very excited.
“Not only do we get to bring our show to regional communities and play for local audiences, we will also discover more of Australia.
“Having played in both large cities and smaller towns, we have experienced that regional audiences tend to have a special energy.
“There is an open, joyful feeling to bringing our art to places where it might be a new or rare experience.”
Ms Nicholls describes The Story of Mr B as a charming, humorous story filled with empathy.
“This is a surprise-filled puppet show, set in a giant pop-up book.” she said. “We follow Mr B on a journey through the seasons, where nature tries to cheer him up.”
While tickets are free, tickets should be booked at Balranald Library to secure seats.
