Making an Exhibition Of Ourselves

Our touring exhibition The Magic Of Masks & Puppets is still well and truly on the road. Its circulation will be far and wide - in fact, it's just been to the Swanson Gallery in Thurso, which is mainland Britain's northernmost town. You can't get much further afield than that!

We are delighted at the interest that has been shown in the exhibition by bookers and the visiting public alike, and there are still more dates to be added to the touring schedule. Press response has been encouraging as well.

Whilst in the Highlands, the show has had coverage from the Inverness Courier, Highland News, Scottish Daily Mail and BBC Gaelic. Not forgetting Martin Macgilp's positive write-up in the British UNIMA Bulletin. Thanks Martin.

For those of you who have been waiting for the exhibition to arrive somewhere a bit more central, fear not. It will be in Greenock in May and June and will return to the central belt for a three-month stay at Glasgow's Scotland Street Museum.

Since 2002 the Exhibition has been seen Buckingham County Museum, Warriington Museum, Gloucester Folk Museum and Salford Museum and Art Gallery.

SMPC Have eamed up with The Amazing Mr Bones to produce a book on Punch & Judy. The book, entitled Not The Punch & Judy Show is written by Mr Bones and published by our good selves. Mr Bones aka Gordon McCrae has been performing Punch & Judy for 30 years and lends his insight to the book which focuses on using Punch & Judy in the context of community groups, special needs and at galas, fetes and parties. It also tells something of the history of the nation's favourite criminal and contains an invaluable 'how to' section on sound and lighting for the puppet theatre, as well as how to make the puppet in the first place. Not The Punch & Judy Show will is available from February 14th from John Smith Booksellers or Ray DaSilva's Puppet Books, priced at £5 (plus postage and packing)..

SMPC ran a one week mastercourse in Wayang Golek(Javanese) puppet manipulation between 25-29 June 2001. The class was taught by Pa Asep Sunander Sunarya from Indonesia.The translator and visit co-ordinator was Anna Ingleby in association with The Asian Music Circuit, London.

Asep is a Wayang Golek Master (or Dalang) and was accompanied by a Gamelan drummer to provide the essential musicaland rhythmic element to the course. Wayang Golek rod figures are the traditional form of puppertry and rhythmic in Indonesia and the surrounding area, and are often used to perform tales from the Ramayana and The Mahabarata.

Course Fee was £100 per person. It was recommended particularly for those with a long-term interest in puppetry or traditional Asian culture. 15 participants were recruited from a wide range of interest including professional puppeteers and students, gamelan enthusiasts, and dancers and choreographers.

In addition to the performance a special Lecture Demonstration was given by Asep at The Biggar Little Theatre, kindly hosted by Ian and Jill Purves, on Sunday 1st August.

This Masterclass and Residency was funded by The Scottish Arts Council and Glasgow City Council.

We are now accepting visits from scholars and researchers to use our library and audio-visual resources.

Whether your progression route is vocational into the profession, or into research, education, therapy, health or community work there is something in it for you. The age range of participants ranges from school leavers to retirement, and there is no discrimination on the grounds of creed, colour or class. Our aim is to draw out the best in you and to develop your abilities and skills as an individual artist as well as those required to work in a team.

We reject all elitist theories about artistic genius, and refuse to adhere any authoritarian psychological theories about certain personality or gender types making better workers than others. Our benchmarks and standards are high. Our students have twice won major awards in the advanced and open categories of the annual CRAFTEX Exhibition organised by the Glasgow Trades Council.

Look out for our Annual Puppeteers Day scheduled for Sunday 5th June 2005 which we spend networking, gathering the voices of puppeteers and enthusiasts alike. This is punctuated with performances, demonstrations, talks, videos, food, refreshments, live music and international bookstall.Make a note in your diary. Bookable only by prior agreement as places are limited.