Adrian kohler and basil jones, founders of the handspring puppet company in south africa, created all of the aweinspiring puppets led by nine horses for the lincoln center theater. Tall horse 2004, with the sogolon puppet troupe of mali, and war horse 2007, with the british national theatre have elevated handsprings evocative animation of animal figures juxtaposed with. South africas handspring puppet company, known for finely crafted and innovative puppets. The genius puppetry behind war horse handspring puppet company. Thus is just a video i recorded when they came to hershey. After a scene where joey tussles with fellow war horse, the dominate topthorn, the plays first act concludes with a series of. War horse is a powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music, lighting and magnificent artistry. Kohler and jones worked with directors marianne elliott and tom morris and choreographer toby sedgwick to design and construct lifesized horse puppets, controlled by three actors. With their magnificent puppets, basil jones and adrian kohler have been pushing theatergoers experiences, casting a spell on audiences across the world. The chimp project 20,tall horse directed by marthinus basson 200, war horse the puppets and materials. Company overview and history handspring puppet company. Visually mesmerizing, this multimedia exhibition stirred up. Puppets always have to try to be alive, says adrian kohler of the handspring puppet company, a gloriously ambitious troupe of human and wooden actors.
In 2007, handspring puppet company s war horse, based on the novel by michael morpurgo and commissioned by the national theatre in london, won olivier. The production has its roots in history in 1827 the pasha of egypt, muhammad ali, sent a giraffe as a gift to king charles x of france. May 11, 2014 before war horse became a hollywood blockbuster, it began as an internationally successful play. Mar 21, 2011 handspring puppet company will likely be a book useful to those aspiring puppeteers eager to hear the chronicles of those who have paved the way for modern puppetry. Posts about handspring puppet company written by sallyscottsart. The handspring puppet company achieved critical acclaim when war horse premiered at the royal national theatre in south bank, london, on 17 october 2007.
I designed all nine horses, the soldier puppets, the crows, swallows and a goose. Apr 19, 20 posts about handspring puppet company written by artsair. The handspring puppet company guys of south africa, the fellas who created the remarkable lifesizeand rideablehorse puppets for the stage versions of war horse, are back in. War horse codirector tom morris is to once again work with handspring puppet company on a new. Puppets always have to try to be alive, says adrian kohler of the handspring puppet company. With equine puppets, telling the war horse story of wwi. At the center of its popularity was, and famously remains, the phenomenal puppetry which brings the titular horse to life. Sep 25, 2016 war horse director pulls the strings to stage puppet version of victor hugo tale this article is more than 3 years old. War horse creators incredible lifesize puppets cnn. Nows your chance to own a piece of war horse puppet history. Feb 17, 2014 handspring illustrations of war horse puppet mechanics. Puppets always have to try to be alive, says adrian kohler of the handspring puppet company, a gloriously ambitious.
At the center of its popularity was, and famously remains, the phenomenal puppetry. Handspring puppet company broadway and theatre credits. Two actors operate the legs and a third controls the head and. War horse director pulls the strings to stage puppet version. A member of handspring puppet company demonstrates the abilities of joey the horse. Leg action feb 17, 2014 handspring illustrations of war horse puppet mechanics. War horse director pulls the strings to stage puppet.
Cape towns handspring puppet company, which created the lifesize horse puppets for war horse, was named a tony award winner on tuesday. The handspring puppet company, which created the title character in war horse, has new creations in a darker play, crow, in london. Handspring puppet company, the south african theatre makers now most. A set of original war horse puppets has been sold at a charity auction for a total of. Handspring puppet co the genius puppetry behind war horse.
As for the four metrelong shelf of testimonies purgatorial, cathartic. Astonishing life size horse puppet by handspring puppet. A fascinating introduction is followed by a chronology detailing the companys productions to date. Buy handspring puppet company 1st by taylor, jane isbn. Tall horse was a collaboration between the sogolon puppet troupe of mali and handspring puppet company. Posts about handspring puppet company written by artsair. Genius puppeteers of the war horse relive their south african roots. Handspring illustrations of war horse puppet mechanics. Handspring puppet company theatre credits, news, bio and photos.
What soon sold morpurgo, who grew up in the english town of devon, where war horse is set, was watching another show staged by the south africabased handspring puppet company and. Handspring puppet company 21 blvd way, 7945 cape town, western cape rated 4. Visually mesmerizing, this multimedia exhibition stirred up feelings of transience, the impermanence of things and memories of times gone by. Not only is this puppet super soft and cute, but it is designed brilliantly.
Handspring puppet company is based in cape town, south africa, the company provides an artistic home and professional base for a core group of performers, designers, theatre artists and technicians. See more ideas about puppets, war and puppet making. Much of war horses acclaim can be attributed to the stunning, lifesize horses created by south africas handspring puppet. Crow features birds by handspring puppet company the new. The south african duo behind handspring puppet company face quite a challenge.
Handspring puppet company was founded in 1981 by four graduates of the michaelis school of fine art in cape town, south africa. Handspring puppet company is the first fulllength book on handspring published in south africa. Title page war horse puppets, handspring puppet company studio, cape town, 2007. In these multimedia shows, directed by kentridge, the company combined live actors, puppet and film footage. Looking at the similarities between the two disciplines, basil jones and adrian kohler explain that, like architecture, puppets dont live unless there are people inside them.
Handspring puppet company provides an artistic home and professional base for a core. War horse director pulls the strings to stage puppet version of victor hugo tale this article is more than 3 years old. Handspring puppet co the genius puppetry behind war. War horse, a theatrical production seen by nearly eight million people, features horse puppets designed and created by handspring. When this puppet is not in use, it actually just looks like a regular stuffed animal. Crow features birds by handspring puppet company the. Before war horse became a hollywood blockbuster, it began as an internationally successful play. Handspring puppet company worked in association with the national theatre of great britain on war horse, which is renowned for its. The war horse joey leg mechanisms and details from handspring puppet theatres war horse, as illustrated by alberto cuadra see more.
This short documentary is a fascinating insight into the factory and the work of basil jones and adrian kohler. Handspring puppet company founders basil jones and adrian kohler. Handspring puppet company was founded in 1981 and has grown under the leadership of artistic director adrian kohler and executive producer basil jones for 30 years. Youtube videos on war horse and handspring puppet company. Puppets make a midsummer nights dream magical at kennedy. The south african duo are the cofounders of the handspring puppet company, creators of the astounding lifesized horse puppets that take. Thys stander handsprings chief puppet maker, who has been with me on war horse from the prototype stage, has designed the cane construction system that has made the horses so durable. Two of the cofounders, adrian kohler and basil jones, continue to run the company. In 2004, the theatres associate director, tom morris, saw the potential for the story to be a play. The production has its roots in history in 1827 the pasha of egypt, muhammad ali. Mar 30, 2011 beginning with the tale of a hyenas subtle paw, puppeteers kohler and basil jones build to the story of their latest astonishment.
Speaking at aza2012 in cape town, handspring puppet company tell us that architecture is a key influence in their puppetry. Puppets make a midsummer nights dream magical at kennedy center world stages fest. Puppets make war horse a powerhouse the tennessean. The result of an intense development process on the part of cape towns handspring puppet company, the war horse puppets have. The other exhibition that i found exciting was christine dixies to be king. War horse began at the national theatre of great britain, based in london, england.
How the puppets work lifesized puppet horses called joey and topthorn have been built by movement director and mime artist toby sedgwick and handspring, a south africanbased puppet. The critical success that has stalked war horse across film and stage for the last decade might well have seemed inconceivable at first, had it not been for the exceptional vision and creative skill behind its most famous inanimate players, the horses of the handspring puppet company in south africa. The play dramatised the giraffes journey across the mediterranean sea and the politics. Tall horse 2004, with the sogolon puppet troupe of mali, and war horse 2007, with the british national theatre have elevated handsprings evocative animation of animal figures juxtaposed with human actors to new heights. It really fits like a glove, which makes the horse s mouth and body very easy to manipulate. Genius puppeteers of the war horse relive their south african roots in new. Originally morpurgo thought they must be mad to try to make a play from his bestselling 1982 novel. Handspring puppet company theatre credits, news, bio and. Apr 10, 2014 the handspring puppet company guys of south africa, the fellas who created the remarkable lifesizeand rideablehorse puppets for the stage versions of war horse, are back in town. Mar 22, 2014 puppets make a midsummer nights dream magical at kennedy center world stages fest. War horse, adapted by nick stafford and directed by marianne elliott and tom morris, is miraculousemotionally overwhelming from its very first scenes.
Handspring puppet company brought the world war horse, a sensation thanks in large part to the. Joey and the other horses in the show are truly magnificent creations by the handspring puppet company which dont aim for. With the puppeteers of war horse the new york times. Based in cape town, south africa, the company provides an artistic home and professional base for a core group of performers, designers, theatre artists and technicians. The gay puppet stars of or you could kiss me stage the. Handspring puppet company is published by david krut, a press with a reputation for beautiful books on. Handspring puppet company stage credits productions. War horse puppets come to life with inventive artistry.
Beginning with the tale of a hyenas subtle paw, puppeteers kohler and basil jones build to the story of their latest astonishment. May 04, 2011 cape towns handspring puppet company, which created the lifesize horse puppets for war horse, was named a tony award winner on tuesday. Dissecting the eightfoottall, 120pound puppet in war horse. An 18 minute video in which handspring puppeteerscreators adrian kohler and basil jones.
The puppet of a hyena in a 1994 production called faustus in africa is what drew the attention of londons national theatre to the handspring puppet company. The genius puppetry behind war horse handspring puppet. How the puppets work lifesized puppet horses called joey and topthorn have been built by movement director and mime artist toby sedgwick and handspring, a south african. The puppetry brings galloping, fullscale horses to life on stage their flanks, hides and sinews built of steel, leather and aircraft cables. Crime tragically claims the life of talented war horse. Handspring puppet company edited by jane taylor, with essays by jane taylor, adrienne sichel, adrian kohler, william kentridge, gerhard marx, lesego rampolokeng and basil jones, jane taylor on. After a scene where joey tussles with fellow war horse, the dominate topthorn, the plays first act concludes with a series of harrowing forays into battle that reveal the gruesome cost of war in life and limb. War horse, a production, commissioned by the national theatre in london, which won a laurence. Handspring puppet company biografie berliner festspiele. Jul 07, 2012 the handspring puppet company, which created the title character in war horse, has new creations in a darker play, crow, in london. Originally morpurgo thought they must be mad to try to make a play from his. The genius puppetry behind war horse, introduces puppeteers adrian kohler and basil jones, and their gorgeously lifelike and life size horse.
War horse is a play based on the book of the same name by adult writer michael morpurgo, adapted for stage by nick stafford. The horses, designed and built by the handspring puppet company and choreographed by toby sedgwick, are abstract and constructivistic in design and no attempt is made to hide the puppeteers manipulating them. Puppets always have to try to be alive, says adrian kohler of the handspring puppet company, a gloriously ambitious troupe of human and. Crime tragically claims the life of talented war horse puppet maker. Handspring puppet company will likely be a book useful to those aspiring puppeteers eager to hear the chronicles of those who have paved the way for modern puppetry. Handspring s work has been presented in more than 30 countries around the world.
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