Africa & The Middle East
Iranian director Behrouz Gharibpour is planning an elaborate new puppet opera in Tehran.
Conrad Koch’s Twitter war with South African singer Steve Hofmeyr over allegedly racist statements Hofmeyr made on social media is headed to court.
Asia
Mumbai-based puppeteer Meena Naik is using puppetry to promote cleanliness and hygiene in India.
American delegates in China were recently treated to a special Chinese glove puppet performance in Fujian Province.
Godzilla’s 60th birthday was celebrated in Tokyo this week.
100-year-old Lv Xinzhe wants to keep traditional Chinese shadow puppetry alive.
The Paper Cinema is teaching their craft to Malaysian students.
Europe
Gerry Anderson’s Firestorm smashed through its fundraising target.
A look back at the 40 year history of the Puppet Centre in London.
Nina Conti lived with her Ventriloquial alter ego Monk on her hand for six weeks.
Erth’s popular Dinosaur Zoo is still stomping around the U.K.
The Marionnettissimo Festival takes place in Tournefeuille, France November 18th – 25th.
The 33rd annual International Puppet Festival Bilbao is underway in Bilbao, Spain (link goes to a Spanish language web site).
A new generation is continuing the Karagiozis shadow puppet tradition in Greece.
North America
ABC TV is working on a new sitcom about a boy who grows up surrounded by puppets.
Jeff Dunham’s latest comedy special will air November 16th on Comedy Central.
Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre will present A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa in New York City for the holidays.
A review of Sarah Ruhl’s Off Broadway show The Oldest Boy.
Fun fact: Did you know that Daily Show host Jon Stewart used to be a puppeteer?
The Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers talk about their careers and their show Silly Hollow.
Puppet Network Director Jim Hammond explains Fort Lauderdale’s Day of the Dead celebration.
Learn more about Folkmanis Puppets.
Speculation over the future of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Los Angeles continues.
As Team America turns ten it reminds us of how much the world has and hasn’t changed.
Auditions and Job Opportunities
Jim Henson’s Dinosaur Train Live is holding an open call audition for puppeteers in New York City on November 13th (link goes to a Facebook post, login or registration may be required).
Calls for Entry
The IdeasTap Underbelly Award is offering 2-6 innovative and exceptional new theatre shows funding, prime venue slots, mentoring and priority marketing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival next summer.
Norwich Underground Film Club is currently seeking short puppet films, animation and other experimental moving images to screen during their new film club night in Norwich, England.
The puppet friendly Atlanta Film Festival is still accepting submissions for 2015 until November 15th.
Also currently accepting short films is the 2015 Indie Boots Film Festival in Chicago, Illinois.
Further Confusion is seeking 5-10 minute puppet acts and short puppet films for a puppet slam at its annual convention in San Jose, California.
Workshops and Training Opportunities
UNIMA is currently offering international training grants of up to €1,000 to puppetry students and recent graduates of puppetry programs (hurry, the deadline to apply is November 15th!)
Ingrid Hansen teaches an object manipulation workshop in Toronto, Canada on November 29th.
Looking to get started in puppetry on Canada’s West Coast? The Dusty FlowerShop Studio hosts a Puppetry Exploration Workshop in Vancouver beginning November 19th (link goes to a Facebook Event Page, login or registration may be required).
Beginning January 2015, Puppet Heap will be offering workshops at their studio in New Jersey.
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