Short Puppet Movies
The puppet movies began with Good News from the Sun.
STO Union had been invited to present the work in Toronto for the opening of the Toronto Theatre Centre’s new building. When the opening was delayed by several months, the young people who had been part of the production had already moved on — leaving for university, travelling and beginning the next stages of their lives.
Rather than replace them, Nadia Ross made puppets of the performers and created Good News from the Sun Part 2, a new work based on her experience with them and on their absence. It was also a kind of joke about one of theatre’s most persistent ideas: the show must go on. If the performers had moved on, perhaps their puppet versions could continue in their place.
Ross continued to work periodically with puppets after that project. Many of the puppets were made by people in Wakefield, Quebec, and the films often brought together local puppet makers, performers, musicians, artists and collaborators.
This page brings together a selection of short puppet movies and excerpts from longer works.
Business Is Our Mother
A puppet pontificates on how business has taken over everything.
Writer, editor: Nadia Ross
Videographers: Rob Scott and Nadia Ross
Voice: Gary Dimmock
Puppeteers: Nadia Ross, Rob Scott and the people of Wakefield
Music: Mike Dubé
Animation: Madeleine Ranger, with Thea Pratt
Puppets: The people of Wakefield
Set and costumes: Rob Scott, Heidi Honegger, cj fleury, Randolph MacMillan, Julie Cameron, Nadia Ross and the people of Wakefield
Puppets by the People of Wakefield:
Agnes Krischel, Allysun Wellburn, cj fleury, De Danann Davey (Dai), Dianne Rogers, Freya Hamilton St-Aumond, George Acheson, Hannah Ranger, Irene Halaang, Jen Hamilton, Jill Rick, JP Campbell, Julie Cameron, Kathleen Gilbert, Lori Doran, Luther Wright, Lynne Bedbrooke, Manon LeBlanc, Melanie Somers, Michael Kinghorn, Michele Oser, Michelle April, Neko Jay Wellburn, Nelson Oser, Paul Jay, Paulette Saltman, Phil Cohen, Randy McMillan, Rick Ritza, River Jay Wellburn, Ryan MacDonald, Sasha Smith, Stephanie Hill, Sue Hunter, Susan Lee, Tanya Smith, William Hamilton St-Aumond.
Stay Calm Make Cash
A bored office worker taps his fingers at his desk.
Writer, editor: Nadia Ross
Videographers: Rob Scott and Nadia Ross
Puppet: Rick Ritza
Sign: Randolph MacMillan
Set: Rob Scott
Costume: Heidi Honegger
Puppeteers: Nadia Ross and Rob Scott
Living in a Market Society
A bedridden puppet struggles to get out of bed as the words “Living in a market society is harsh” appear on screen.
Text, edit and music: Nadia Ross
Video: Rob Scott and Nadia Ross
Puppeteers: Nadia Ross, Rob Scott and the villagers of Wakefield
Puppet: William Hamilton St-Aumond
Set and costumes: Stephanie Hill, Rob Scott, Heidi Honegger and Nadia Ross
Slow Down to Catch Up
A puppet sitting at the bar offers some advice: slow down to catch up.
Puppet: Michael Kinghorn
Voice: Chris Honegger
Set: cj fleury
Props: Rob Scott
Costume: Heidi Honegger
Video: Nadia Ross and Rob Scott
Edit: Nadia Ross