Adventures of A Puppet Showman: The World Turned Upside Down was a production by Year 2 HND Puppet Theatre Arts students of Anniesland College developed between September 2000 and June 2001.

The show depicts the lives and working conditions of various puppet showman and fantocchini operators from 1820-1930. It was collectively researched and devised, directed and coordinated by Malcolm Knight in collaboration with Mike Gonzalez and Don McCoo.

Training in puppet manipulation was given by marionettist Ken Barnard (Vice-President of The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild) and Anna Ingleby (Indigo Moon Puppet Theatre). Martin Mc Gilp of British UNIMA assisted with research sources and primary source material. Performers: Sheila Middleton, Paul Ross, Billy Beattie, Carrie Innes, John Findlay, Shane Connolly, Mike Gonzalez, Prologue by Malcolm Knight:-

It's an old art and a true art as popular can be
that links figure workers and people for all to see.
Strings were pulled from Maryhill to Moscow
in astonishing convultions, evolutions, dislocations and evaporations.
Get a trade behind thee lad, it will always stand thee in good stead.
Get a proper job, dolly-waggling like a wean won't see thee fed.
When just a youth, I set to manufacturing a set of Fantoccini figures
like I'd seen at Glasgow fair in keek shows, penny gaffs and side stalls.
After all, you don't want to be stuck down the pit nor a poor wee shifter
who cannae get a rest, roaming in a horse-drawn wagon as a lowland drifter.
It's an old art and a true art as popular as culture can be
that links the journeyman and puppet master to be free.
In the fairs and the market places, wherever there be common ground,
marionettes or little Mary's are given life with fife and drum for sound.
Puncturing pretensions - the world turned upside down -
an end to rich exploiters, corrupt clergy, and the monarchical crown!
Better to be made of lignum vitae and of lowly descent
Than to have a heart of stone and eyes fixed on a rapid ascent.
To set that in the bottom that others would make the top of the building,
and to set that upon the roof which others lay for a foundation.
Figure workers made free by a life of jubilant creativity.
Lifeless wood and bits of cloth without a human agent
are transformed by human spirit to live and breathe.
Tricks, turns and transformations
produce earth tremors and undulations.
It's an old art and a true art as popular as can be
that links the strings and figures and also earns a fee.
(Copyright: M.Knight)

Photographs are by Patxi Bello, Basque photographer and visual recorder of the rehearsal and production process.