THANKS AND LINKS

Theatre is a collaborative business, and Monsters and Mayhem owes a great deal to many.  There are a host of individuals and companies who have influenced, worked alongside, or helped Monsters and Mayhem, and this section of our website hopes to acknowledge the debt we owe and express our thanks to them.

THANKS TO:

Women Into Enterprise, Glasgow City Council   As you can imagine, setting up a life, let alone setting up a business in a new country can seem a daunting prospect.  The early set-up of Monsters and Mayhem in Glasgow was assisted by the Women Into Enterprise scheme who part-funded the purchase of such equipment as our bench-top drill press, sewing machine, and rotary tool. (all VERY handy for building puppets, sets and costumes!).  Thank you!

Miles Lee   This Scottish Puppeteer and collector can serve as an inspiration for all Scottish puppeteers!  A bursary provided by his estate assisted Monsters and Mayhem in sending the director on a course of further study in puppetry in 2003.  Many thanks.

INSPIRATION and COLLABORATION

As well as Miles Lee (above), there are many others who have served as an inspiration to Monsters and Mayhem.  Inspiration can also come from those we work with- here are just a few of the people who have inspired us.

PUPPETEERS and THEATRE PRACTITIONERS

Jim Henson (USA/UK)   Legendary puppeteer and producer who had a reputation for sharing ideas and opportunities with all those he worked with.  He whole-heartedly aimed to use puppetry and art to inspire millions and make the world a better place.  Man of many muppets.

Norman Heatherington and Mr Squiggle (AUS)   An early influence for Monsters and Mayhem, this one-man-puppet-explosion made and operated his own puppets in shows he often wrote himself.  He takes his creation Mr Squiggle very seriously and actively encourages upcoming puppeteers with generous words of support and advice.

Richard Bradshaw, Master Shadow Puppeteer (AUS)   Richard, like Jim Henson, is a master-puppeteer who has written about his own puppet making in a way that confirms his sharing nature.  His gentle shows for children are a delight, with the odd sprinkling of political comment and super kangaroos added for good measure.

Ross Browning's Puppetease (AUS)   Ross performs vibrant puppet shows in schools and at festivals using fabulous puppets and incorporating live music that certainly shows off his training as a jazz musician.

The Bilbies (AUS)   Maria and John L Simpson showed considerable gusto creating this company from rather humble Sydney beginnings into its current state- it is large enough to organise national tours of shows- often with multiple teams, using catchy music and bright costumes.

Wendy Wolfson, Storyteller (UK- Glasgow)   Wendy is a delightful storyteller with a focus on local and traditional Scottish tales, but an interest in stories of all kinds!  She is Glasgow-based and registered on the Scottish Storytelling Centre's website of accredited storytellers.

Alice Brooks, Children's Entertainer (UK- Stonehaven)   Alice is a woman with boundless energy.  She loves doing children's parties and incorporates whatever her most recent passion is into each event!  She enjoys magic, disco, puppetry, singing, and storytelling.  Based in Stonehaven/Aberdeen.

Igneous   Igneous is a multimedia dance company that uses film and puppetry in dance performances that explore issues of the body, mortality and metamorphosis.  Suzon Fuks, James Cunningham, Iain Court and others make up this Australian-based, internationally touring company.

Mark Carr (SCOT- Edinburgh)   Edinburgh-based musician and composer Mark Carr has assisted Monsters and Mayhem with our puppet show for the Glasgow Science Centre.  He is in the process of making himself a new site.

ORGANISATIONS and WEBSITES

The Scottish Storytelling Centre   The Scottish Storytelling Centre is a fabulous organisation and resource that shows what enthusiastic people with a shared love of stories can do!  They organise regular events and training, have a list of accredited storytellers, and are an invaluable source of information for anyone seeking a career in the field.

SCOTNITS   A great online community for Scottish Theatre Practitioners, with a great email list and handy Scottish Links.

The Village Storytelling Centre   This centre based in Pollock's St James' Church hosts a wide range of storytelling events, from reminiscences to extensive work with school children and refugees and asylum seekers.

Glasgow Science Centre   A hands-on science centre full of fun for the whole family- now boasting a Monsters and Mayhem designed puppet show for Primary 1-3 during the 2006 school year!

Imaginate   Scottish organisation that supports children’s theatre in this country and organises (amongst other things) the Edinburgh International Festival of Children’s Theatre

Unima   British Unima is the Puppeteer’s Guild in the UK (BrUnima being the UK branch of this international organisation). Promotes the art and skills of puppetry around the with encouragement, respect and peace.

IMTAL   The International Museum Theatre Alliance is an organisation that encourages the use of theatre within cultural institutions as an effective interpretive approach.

Equity   The Union for performers and theatre practitioners, with some VERY handy information about theatre rates and agreements.

Playwrights Studio, Scotland   Lovely bunch of people promoting and encouraging playwrights and play writing in Scotland.

Federation of Scottish Theatre   is as it sounds!

The Hunger Site   This site allows you to donate FOOD to HUNGRY PEOPLE.  It also links to sites that give people free mammograms, books for children and save rainforest land.  It takes a minute (to click on ALL of them!), costs nothing, and you get that happy feel-good feeling!  Practically as good as watching a brilliant theatre performance!