Labour Dept approval ensures puppets’ future

Press, 28 March 1981, Page 28

Labour Dept approval ensures puppets’ future

Fifty puppets and their 10 puppeteers, who are members of the “Flying Hat” Company, have been granted a reprieve by the Labour Department. In February the group faced a bleak future among the ranks of the unemployed when the Labour Department would not accept it as part of the Project Employment Programme. The group had planned to work in the Robert McDougall Art Gallery’s “Outreach” programme.

The gallery’s education officer, Mrs Ann Betts has said that the department had decided to approve the “Outreach” programme for this year.

Miss Briar Middleditch had worked on the colourful array of puppets for three years, and seven other pup-

peteers worked on the project for three months over the summer. The group planned to use the “Outreach” programme to help it become a professional company. Thousands of dollars had been spent on materials for the puppets, each of which has its own name, Mrs Betts said. They include witches, vampires, worms, snakes and a princess. Miss Middleditch has written scripts for puppet shows, and the group includes sound, lighting, wardrobe and make-up experts. Mrs Betts said 10 people would be employed through the scheme for three months each, and it was hoped to extend the programme for another three months. The company would give its first performance in the gallery on April 5 at 3 p.m. . The “Outreach” pro-

gramme would give the members of the company the chance to perfect their skills and prepare to become a professional company. It would! also educate the public about puppet theatre, she said.

The group had also been given a $6OOO grant from the Youth Initiative Fund, which would be used to buy equipment.

Mrs Betts said the puppet troupe would be the main group employed for the “Outrgach” programme this year.

This year’s programme would be more visual than last year’s, when several music and drama groups were employed. The puppet company would not compete against the music groups employed last year, who were now trying to work professionally.