User:Yym0z/Handspan

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Handspan Theatre, Visual Theatre, Australian Puppetry, Melbourne puppet company, Arts collective

Handspan was a Melbourne puppetry collective founded in 1977-78 by Helen Rickards, Christine Woodcock, Ken Evans, Andrew Hansen, Maeve Vella and Peter J. Wilson.

Handspan Theatre was created initially to explore alternative forms of puppetry to the old style booth or marionette shows that were prevalent across Australia at the time.

Eventually the company went on to gather many more members over the next 25 years - either as ongoing core members or as contributors to the production process at any given time.

The collective format was perhaps a strong element of the company's success as artistic and business roles were often rotated amongst (though not exclusive to) the membership allowing for professional development as part of the company's day-to-day business from the outset. An annual 'dreaming meeting' would serve as both a group-devised business plan and creative agenda for the next year.

Handspan's merits abound beyond Australian shores, earning several awards and accolades from touring the world stage. Possibly their most germane accolade was awarded at the 1982 Spoleto Festival, Italy for the astonishing multimedia work Secrets conceived by and devised with Nigel Triffit. The founder of the Spoleto Festivals, composer Giancarlo Menotti, was reported to be so taken with the work he was moved to visit Melbourne and went on to establish a 3rd Spoleto Festival in Melbourne (now renamed the Melbourne Festival) - the 2nd Spoleto Festival being held in Charleston, USA.

Notable Handspan Theatre productions included:

• Live theatre:
  • Secrets
  • Madam Butterfly
  • 4 Little Girls
  • Viva La Vida

External Links

Handspan Theatre - Entry - eMelbourne - The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online

Theatre Collection - The Arts Centre - the home of the performing arts in Melbourne

Annual report - Handspan Theatre - National Library of Australia