"How important are the visual arts in our society? I feel strongly that the visual arts are of vast and incalculable importance. Of course, I could be prejudiced. I am a visual art." - Kermit the Frog

Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 14/05) - Internationally-renowned puppeteer and theatre instructor Jim Morrow will teach his art in Yellowknife next week.

The Newfoundland-born actor is a 28-year veteran of the Mermaid Theatre puppet troupe in Halifax. He studied under legendary Muppeteer Jim Henson.

Morrow will present a series of three workshops at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre from Oct. 21-23, challenging performers to experiment with new theatrical forms and ideas.

"Puppetry is not emphasized in theatre schools, but I think most professional actors who learn understand how this medium improves their performance," he said.

Experimenting with puppetry builds performance skills by forcing actors to externalize their movements.

It requires actors to transfer an idea into an inanimate object, while still bringing a story to life with character and emotion.

Cultures around the world have developed puppeteering traditions that stretch back for centuries.

These include the shadow puppets of ancient Greece, the Bunraku puppets of 17th century Japan and the marionette menageries that criss-crossed medieval France.

As with many artistic and cultural spheres, Canadian puppeteers borrow from other traditions to create their own style and identity.

"There's no identifiable Canadian tradition," Morrow said.

"Part of our mission at Mermaid Theatre is to advance puppetry as an art form."

Enrolment is limited to 12 students.