CANMORE – Canmore’s favourite puppeteers and their friends have a story to tell this week, and all of Canada is invited to join in.
Entangled Puppetry’s variety show “Hullabaloo!” will be live-streamed at 9 a.m. Thursday (May 7) on its Facebook page as part of #CanadaPerforms after puppeteer-partners Tangle and Tyler McClaron received a grant from the National Arts Centre (NAC).
“Hullabaloo! is an interactive, family-friendly music and theatre experience,” said Tyler. “It’s a mix of classic Canadiana, family songs, and our original music is brought into the mix with handmade puppet creatures that join us for different songs and shenanigans.”
The 50-minute variety show for all ages will be filmed at the empty artsPlace’s theatre with a videographer broadcasting the performance.
“We were really stoked about [receiving the grant], it was a quick process for us, we put in our application and heard back a couple days later,” Tyler said. “We’re really eager to get an opportunity to share to a new audience and hopefully the Bow Valley audience.”
Starting in 2011, Entangled Puppetry showcases the colourful personalities of a variety of its custom-built puppets, entwined with a multi-instrument spectacle.
Usually performed in front of a live audience, the Entangled Puppetry duo has adapted the show for an online audience – and no matter how weird it’ll seem, they’re glad to be able to play off each other.
“As a live performer, one of the joys is direct interaction with audience and the exchange of energy,” Tangle said. “This will definitely be a little bit a of strange experience because we won’t have that immediate feedback.”
Tyler added they’d love it if people form across Canada joined in and danced in their living rooms during their performance.
The Facebook-NAC Fund for Performing Artists issued $700,000 to artists affected by COVID-19 related closures and cancellations of venues and concerts. The fund supports live online performances for artists, and uses the hash tag CanadaPerforms on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Entangled Puppetry received a $1,000 grant and had 10 days to prepare for show time.
Canmore’s artsPlace was the obvious choice for the performance, as the local venue has hosted several online streams with artists during the pandemic.
“I’d like to give props to artsPlace," Tyler said.
"Almost as soon as the pandemic got underway and life was going to change in ways we never felt before, artsPlace stepped up as a leader for the arts and to create opportunities and have a voice and share local artists music in the Bow Valley.”
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