A Book of Shadows
Puppet Theatre
A Book of Shadows – Puppet Theatre
Not basket in which she squats , up-tossed
But mortar like shell broken half-birthed
Rowing, sweeping with doughty pestle
Steel-strong string webs of cob tidied
Into order, for Ariachne to spin fresh
Pathways star to star
Seventeen times moon-distant.
Bright new cosmos
Out-flung from consummate cribellum
Measured and mapped in glistening silver
Wheels within wheels.
In time, she will rowing return
Sweeping.
We are a Brighton based shadow-puppet troupe.
Shadow-puppetry is an incredibly magical art/performance method with strong traditions in Asia, where it fulfils a semi-religious function in communities. Areas of Eastern Europe also hold shadow-puppetry traditions and schools.
Our shows all focus largely upon the Crone, Atropos – the cutter of the thread. Her function is so essential, nothing can begin afresh until the old has been cut away and cleared. However our society has feared and sought to disempower and sideline this aspect of femininity.
Our last show – “Three Drops” was the Welsh tale of Cerridwen – “White Sow”, herself a Dark Goddess, and how her role was integral in teaching mankind, Merlin in this case, about Fate, Magic and Rebirth.
We also run shadow puppet workshops. My favourites are cross-age. Including from young children to the elderly. We often run age-specific workshops however and I am involved in plans for a puppet course for juniors to begin later this year.
We are all DBS checked and Public Liability insured and available for Fairs, Fetes, Festivals, private parties and all community events.