The Mermaid Times: Puppet History - From Mermaid Theatre to the Canadian Museum of History

There’s a unique puppet in the Canadian Museum of History that was created here at Mermaid Theatre. Tom Miller (co-founder of Mermaid Theatre) created a "mouth and rod" puppet for the production of Glooscap's People, Madoonak the Stormmaker (remounted as The Wabenaki).

A mouth puppet has a distinguishable mouth that uses flexible materials which allow for manipulation of the puppet’s mouth.

The rod puppet is a puppet that has a rod attached to the limbs and can be manipulated by the puppeteer to move its arms.

If you want to move the other limbs on the puppet, it will require the help of another puppeteer.

Learn more information: https://www.historymuseum.ca/collections/artifact/231833/?media_irn=326260

Pictures retrieved from: https://www.historymuseum.ca/collections/artifact/231833/?media_irn=326260

The Mermaid Times - Origin of Puppets

There is a vibrant and rich culture about the origins of puppets, but conflicting theories still persist. It is hard to pinpoint the exact geneses of puppets and puppeteering due to many influences from several different cultures.

German Richard Pischel (1849-1908) an Indologist, believes they originate from India. The Sanskrit names “sutradhara” meaning he who holds the strings, and “sutraprota” meaning puppet (Union Internationle de La Marrionette - UNIMA).

Another theory suggested by researchers Hermann Reich (1868-1934) and Berthold Laufer (1874-1934), believe there is a dominant Greek culture influence (UNIMA).

Originally puppets were not used as entertainment pieces as they are in some performances seen today, however they were more commonly used for religious/ceremonious purposes, or as ancient idols.

Learn more information (click here) : https://wepa.unima.org/en/origins-of-the-puppet/

Know any other origin stories of puppets? Let us know!

The Mermaid Times - Jenny Rogers

Artist in Residence - Jenny Rogers

We are thrilled to have had the pleasure of hosting artist and creative powerhouse, Jenny Rogers - Mermaid Theatre Artist in Residence at Mermaid’s Loft space for her upcoming project, “Sophie’s Gift” - an exploratory puppetry piece based on Roger’s written and illustrated work. After Jenny’s experience as a “Mermaid Lofter”, she assessed her project with beautiful drawings and articulated her process in a clever and approachable way. Click here to read her full project experience at Mermaid.

Jenny is a recent MFA graduate from the University of Michigan. Roger’s whimsical book can be purchased here https://www.sophiepress.com

About Mermaid’s Loft Residency Program
The primary goal of the Mermaid Theatre Loft Residency is to create a professional development opportunity for emerging and established professionals that is considered unique in Canadian theatre. Participants, with an interest in developing new work, or improve existing work, rooted in object and visual theatre, are encouraged to apply. Mermaid Theatre will provide access to all our facilities including the Loft Space, as well as, access to all Mermaid Theatre personnel who will engage in relevant discussions regarding the specifics of each project. Mentoring will be provided in puppetry manipulation and construction, set and prop design and construction, play development, dramaturgy, organizational planning, administration, and touring.

If you are interested in this program please send us a project proposal and residency dates by clicking here: Contact Us.