A Passion for Puppetry: Kokako’s Song at Dunedin Fringe

Media Release: 01/03/2017

Kokako’s Song by Birdlife Productions
The Dunedin Fringe Festival, 2017

A Passion for Puppetry!

This year the Dunedin Fringe is offering a unique piece of Children’s Puppet Theatre as part of their desire to embrace a wider audience and encourage a more family-friendly branch of the festival. Birdlife Productions, aka Roger and Bridget Sanders, are unapologetic about their passion for puppetry!

They are a longstanding creative partnership hailing from Nelson, and their latest show ‘Kokako’s Song’, is stamped with their hallmark ‘hand-made’ quality - incorporating an abundance of different puppetry styles in one show. For example, there is 6 year old Angel, the central character of the story – an enchanting life sized stick-operated puppet, as well as string puppets, hand puppets, and the use of everyday objects that take on a life of their own.

Birdlife Productions Co-Director, Bridget Sanders, feels that Puppetry acts as an intermediary forming a direct line to the heart and psyche of both children and adults. “Puppets never fail to engage our imaginations. They are mesmerising facsimiles of the real world as well as having special permission to push the boundaries of our reality. Everyone loves puppets; they are enigmatic and enchanting!”

A professional Storyteller for the last 30 years, Roger Sanders believes that a good story is food for the soul; “In ‘Kokako’s Song’ the Puppet and Human worlds merge. It is a magically transformative story about the importance of connecting with Nature and following your heart.”

As well as writing the story and acting with and operating their own puppets, the Sanders’ have built a pop-up set and have made all the puppets and props. Also expect to meet a menagerie of animals, insects and birds as well as hear some original live music and join in with some singing!

Kokako’s Song
18th March, St Pauls Cathedral Crypt

Shows at 11.30, 1.30 and 3.30pm.
50 mins duration. Recommended age 3 – 8yrs (but enjoyed by all ages)

Cost: $5 child, $8 adult, $22 family of 4

Book tickets at www.dunedinfringe.nz

Door sales (cash only) available if not sold out prior.

Web: www.birdlifeproductions.co.nz
FB: www.facebook.com/BirdlifeProductions

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