So here at Tortoise in a Nutshell it is all systems are go!! Everything is gearing up for August. It is a challenge to even decide what to talk about in this blog. We could chat about marketing strategies, set construction, the process of selling a show, budgets and production schedules, the best materials for shadow screens, the best way to make a canary with a ping pong ball, what a mine really sounds like and the challenges of performing with a torch on your head.

But I thought Id take a moment to introduce the star of our show. The LAst Miner. Essentially a collection of wood, wire and even lentils it is astonsihing to think that this recipe of scraps and cut-offs has been made into such an absorbing character.

With the skill of our puppeteers and the auidence's imagination the character comes to life. He is a bold old man with a shuffle in his walk and a grumblig life. He is full of humour and pathos. And I have found him absorbing. It is amazing to think that an object can have such a fantastic stage presence. The puppet is not an actor pretending, it is the character. It embiodies the character in every way, always.

However this comes with its own challenges for a director, you cant ask the puppet to use emotional memories or to move in a way it wasn't designed. Every action has to be considered. If the puppet works the audience's imagination has been fully engaged and they will be looking forevery clue it can to access the puppets thoughts and emotions. Every move has to display this. Every activity the puppet undertakes has to be carefully thought out. Creating a puppet show requires an absolute attention to detail.

But at least we dont need to worry that the star of your show might turn up hung over to rehearsals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ZH2vekd98