Old-Fashioned Storytelling Magic Lives at Howick Historical Village
From basic animations by gloved hands, to rod figures with flapping limbs, to elaborate string ‘marionettes’, puppetry is a form of entertainment spanning centuries and cultures.
Relying on the multi-tasking manipulations of the puppeteer, inanimate and wooden figures magically come to life, to enact a drama before their audiences.
At Howick Historical Village this dying art is being revived by Village educator and puppeteer Linda Darby Coring, with shows – adaptations of fairytales and the 1935 book Little Grey Rabbit’s Christmas - running on Live Days and during school holidays.
Enchanted by the Loney Goatherd puppet show performed by Maria and the Von Trap children in 1965 film The Sound of Music, Linda set out to master puppetry in 2002. With a theatre built by her cabinet maker husband David, ‘Brightspark Theatre’ was founded. Her first shows took place at Highland Park Library.
Creative Communities funding, a short TVNZ piece and puppetry work for ads and music videos helped Linda hone her craft and propelled her into filmmaking, where she learnt audio production. Enhanced sound design added a new dimension to her productions, with music, voice and sound eƯects, as well as occasional collaborations with her famous brother, comedian and actor Rhys Darby who narrates her Jack & the Beanstalk show.
Linda’s sets are decorated with a visual feast of rich detail. Built on half a of circular stage on a turntable, the two half sides revolve as required. They can be swapped out completely with another two-set stage. Her Goldilocks production has four sets on two revolving stages. Ma & Pa bears’ room has a staircase leading to the attic, which miraculously switches over baby bear’s room – a charming woodland tree house.
In Jack & the Beanstalk, the space in front of the theatre becomes the world of the giants, and the show spills out where children sit in the audience breaking the barrier between the fictional realm of the story and our reality. This is a chance for subtle interactions and fun as Edna the giant sweeps around the kids. Here the puppeteer performer is seen and their manipulations are visible, but even young children understand how to ‘suspend disbelief’ to believe in the magic and the illusion of the story.
The puppets themselves are handmade or upcycled, embellished found toys. Devices such as magnets allow them to perform actions and pick up things. These small, simple gestures have an endearing charm. In an age where digital entertainment transports us passively into dazzling visual spectacle, this is diƯerent way of experiencing a story. Grounded and unfolding before you in real space and activating the senses, it is tangible and tactile. Wonder, human interaction, and real drama are the timeless essence of puppet plays.
Keep an eye on the website for the next shows at Howick Historical Village or to get in touch to book a performance for a group or birthday party.
By Francesca Lolaiy, Operations Manager
