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Puppetry takeover: collaborating with Techniquest
Design for Performance students have been working with Wales’ Science Discovery Centre to breathe life into science for children in new ways.
Our partners at Techniquest have shared this press release on our new collaboration:
A unique conversation between art and science is taking place this week, as the puppeteers of the future unveil their creations at the iconic centre, bringing science to life for Techniquest visitors in unexpected ways.
As part of a new partnership with the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, The Puppet Takeover! – taking place on Saturday 5 July and Sunday 6 July – will feature two puppetry performances titled Team Life and Team Space, as well as puppetry creations around the exhibition floor.
Sue Wardle, CEO of Techniquest said: 'We’ve been looking forward to this week since the start of the year, as we’ve never had anything quite like this take place at Techniquest before – at least, not in my memory! The young creatives from RWCMD have done an amazing job, collaborating with our engagement manager on the science and with our operations team on all the logistics, to breathe life into science in new ways for us. We can’t wait to see the reaction from our visitors who’ll see the performances over the coming weekend.'
RWCMD Design for Performance students will perform two new shows – 'Team Life' and 'Team Space' – created especially as part of Techniquest’s 'Summer of Invention'. 'Team Life' follows the journey of a typical patient, from birth to old age, exploring the wonders of medical science along the way; while 'Team Space' takes a closer look at what it might be like to spend time on the International Space Station, and examines life as an astronaut.
Made with 7–9-year-olds in mind, but accessible to all ages, each of the performances have been developed as visual storytelling with the use of creative captions, to offer D/deaf and hard of hearing audiences the opportunity to better immerse themselves in the experience.
'It’s been a wonderful opportunity for our students to collaborate with an external venue like Techniquest.
To be part of their Summer of Invention and to respond creatively to the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through the medium of puppetry has been a unique and exciting project for us. We are looking forward to meeting new audiences and inspiring curiosity.'Lucy HallSenior Lecturer in Design for Performance
RWCMD students ran a workshop with children at Mount Stuart Primary school earlier in June to talk about designs for The Puppet Takeover!, in which the children gave some excellent feedback about finishing touches that could be added to the puppetry.
Visitors will be able to meet these creations, which will be based on different inventions and discoveries relating to science through the ages, at the Puppet Stations on the exhibition floor.
Editors notes
About Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama nurtures and challenges the best creative talent from across the globe, empowering excellence, firing imagination and driving innovation. As Wales’ national conservatoire and largest producing house, we train more than 900 actors, musicians, designers, technicians and arts managers from over 40 countries, for a sustainable career in the arts as leaders of the next generation of artists.
Our students are immersed in a live industry environment from the moment they arrive, pushing the boundaries of what the arts can do to make society better, collaborating and creating new work across a range of professional and community settings.
We are a space for everyone; creative ambition and collaboration are central to our excellence.
About Techniquest
Techniquest is Wales’s largest science discovery centre, set in the heart of Cardiff Bay. Established by Professor John Beetlestone in 1986, it provides STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) experiences for all ages and abilities, providing a platform to educate, entertain and make science accessible to all across Wales.
