Pulling at the heart strings

Tracey Saunders

An ability to be an “energetic presence behind the puppet” is one of the main characteristics Janni Young looks for when casting. She creates each puppet independently of the casting decision, but casts performers with each specific puppet in mind. Once the performer has been cast in the role, minor alterations are sometimes made to the puppet to amplify this presence.

Young’s work can be seen in the much touted Ouroboros production, which runs at the Baxter from today until June 11.

Talking to Young during rehearsals about the magic of puppetry and the relationships between puppets, performers and collaborators, she explained that not all actors are able to work with puppets, and it takes a certain type of performer who is able to shift the focus from themselves to the puppet.

“Puppeteers must be able to stand back from the puppet and be able to project their emotions and movements through the puppet. Puppetry is a form of theatre where an overwhelming stage presence is not a requirement. A more subtle performance is called for and some performers are too enthusiastic for puppets,” she said.

“The puppeteer must possess physical precision, a micro-awareness and the ability to interpret the smallest of the gestures. Often it is through very subtle gestures which emotions are conveyed. The movements are almost imperceptible and could go unseen by an audience, although the emotion and feelings do not go unnoticed.”

Performers in Ouroboros require a good stage memory to manage a set “with things everywhere”, combined with both the stamina and physical strength required to manipulate the puppets.

The production is performed in the Banraku style of puppetry and each main character has one puppeteer manipulating the head and other performers manipulating the arms and legs.

Teamwork is essential and there is a tremendous bond and unity among the collective manipulating each puppet. In Ouroboros, the roles are gendered, with Chuma Sopotela Tali Cervati and Cindy Mkaza manipulating Nokobonisa and Jason Potgieter, Gabriel Marchand and Beren Belknap, Andre.

Everyone working in the space, including the directors, begins each day with a mindfulness session and breathing work before the gruelling work of rehearsals begins.

Ouroboros extends beyond being a collaboration between puppets and puppeteers, and harnesses the combined efforts of Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler directing with Young, the choreographic skill of Mamela Nyamza, the musical insight of Neo Muyanga and the animation of Michael Clark.

Young has valued the experience of working with professionals so highly skilled in their respective fields and their ability to each bring their individuality to the production. Mamela Nyamza, the 2011 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance, brought a clarity of gesture and was able to bring the puppets beyond naturalisation. In addition to the choreography, Mamela taught the dance sequences to the performers.

Neo’s soundtrack plays a central role in this non-dialogue production inspired by the poetry of Billy Collins. Together with Daniel Eppel, he has created music which Young feels goes “behind and through the puppets”.

Young has been interested in puppets from the young age of six, but her love affair with puppetry began in earnest when studying for her fine art degree at UCT. She was entranced with the relationship between people and art that puppetry explored. She furthered her immersion in puppets at the French National School of Puppet Theatre, and has since been the CEO of Unima SA and directed the popular Out The Box festival.

In 2010 she was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year award in fine arts and joined Handspring Puppet Company as associate director in January this year.

If you have questions for the directors of Orobouros, join them for drinks after the show on Saturday, or for next Tuesday and Wednesday’s Q&A session.

Two matinées will be also staged, on Saturday and Tuesday at 11am. Next Thursday, The Making of War Horse will be screened, together with the local premier of a special feature on the building of the War Horse puppets by Clifford Bestall.

l Tickets are R60 to R130. To book, call Computicket at 083 915 8000. Discounts for scholars and seniors. Follow the production at twitter.com/handspringcc