Date: 15-18 November 2024
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Venue: The CHR’s Iyatsiba Lab, 66 Greatmore Street, Woodstock, (Entrance on Regent Road).
In November 2024, the Centre for Humanities Research at UWC present Pro-Vocation: Roots and Wings, the 4th iteration of Pro-Vocation, in partnership with the UNIMA Professional Training Commission, the UNIMA Africa Commission, and UNIMA SA. The Pro-Vocation series are international conferences on puppetry training, organized by UNIMA’s Professional Training Commission since 2015. The full event will be hosted at the CHR’s Iyatsiba Lab in Woodstock, with performances and workshops at Theatre Arts in Observatory and Indawo Yobomi in Makhaza Cape Town.
In the lead up to the conference there will be workshops with various international artists. From 15-18th November Isabelle Matter will lead a workshop entitled ‘Exploring the Fruitful Relationships Between Text, Puppets, and Objects’. This four-day workshop is kindly supported by Prohelvetia and the Swiss Arts Council. It invites professional performing arts practitioners to delve into the dynamic interplay between text, puppetry, and objects. While visual storytelling is a hallmark of puppetry, the written word plays an equally vital role – even in silence. Participants will experiment with various types of writing and techniques, exploring the rich dramaturgical pathways that unfold when words and objects come together. Through practical exercises, attendees will use textual materials, puppets, and objects to create their own play-spaces, guided by dramaturgical analysis tools that will help uncover new creative avenues.
Workshop Facilitator
Isabelle Matter
Isabelle Matter is the director of the Théâtre des Marionnettes de Genève, where she has been leading since the 2015-2016 season. With a background in sociology, she transitioned to theatre and puppetry, directing numerous productions that often draw from classical and antique texts, novels, and tales. Isabelle’s work is characterised by her collaborative spirit, regularly partnering with playwrights and authors to explore new narratives and staging possibilities. She also oversees TMG’s research laboratory, Cabaret en Chantier, fostering innovative puppetry projects.
The Théâtre des Marionnettes de Genève (TMG) is one of the few European theatres exclusively dedicated to puppetry and the oldest puppet theatre in Switzerland. A place teeming with creation and transmission, its mission is to promote and support the development of puppetry arts in all their diversity. Offering shows to audiences from 2 years old to adults, it can pride itself on being one of the most intergenerational theatres in the city.
All performing arts practitioners/ those interested in puppetry performance are welcome. However, space is limited so booking is essential. Please send enquiries to centreforhumanitiesresearch@uwc.ac.za
Participants are expected to bring the following:
- 3 text extracts (maximum ½ page: 1 dialogue / 1 description (of place, person, object) / 1 interior monologue
- Any Puppets (glove, table, carried, etc.) that can be used by other participants
