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Talking Sock

One Orange Sock

Welcome to Talking Sock, a One Orange Sock production.

Hosted by Pete Davidson, this interview series shines a spotlight on some of Australia's greatest puppeteers, puppet builders and practitioners. We talk sock about the business of puppetry in Australia and are putting Australian puppetry power on the proverbial podcasting map! Hourly interviews from names including Richard Bradshaw, Sue Wallace (Sydney Puppet Theatre/ ImagineArta) and Philip Millar (Formally Creature Technologies/ Puppetvision) give us and YOU a chance to ask our industries best - "Why puppets and how'd you get there?"

We've curated this series to appeal to the performers, the producers, the builders and the curious general public. Episodes focus on all forms and styles of puppetry as well as its applications in art, design, theatre, education and the wider world. There is truly something for everyone here at Talking Sock Podcast.

Find notes for each episode on our website: www.oneorangesock.com

Follow our socials:

Instragram and Facebook @oneorangesockproductions

and on Twitter @talkingsockcast

Like what you are listening to? Please consider supporting our podcast on Patreon. Your support will help us transcribe the podcast for accessibility and will help sustain the show. You can offer your support here,

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock.


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Season 2

Story Time with Richard Bradshaw
Mar 20 2021
Story Time with Richard Bradshaw
Happy World Puppetry Day 2021!It's one year since Talking Sock was first released to the world. At the height of the pandemic, Australia had just gone into its first national lockdown. And there I was, oblivious to it all, just a little puppet guy trying to pump out four episodes of #puppetpodcastpower in a single day. Trying to make his independent journey in puppetry arts begin. I am so grateful for the response Talking Sock has received in the year since. During the pandemic, it's the thing that has kept me going. We've been placed on playlist by international puppetry legends, endorsed by Ronnie Burkett and have now been downloaded and tuned in to in over 38 countries. What a journey the past twelve months have been indeed, even though I barely left the house at all!This World Puppetry Day, I'm planning on spending more time actually enjoying (and facilitating) the festivities rather than hunching over the editing suite. But I didn't want to disappoint you. During this last season hiatus, I took a look back at my hard drive. It was full. Full of all this content I had recorded. I realised that so many of our beloved Australian puppetry artists had much more to tell you that I just couldn't fit into the season one edits. But there was one puppeteer in particular that I know I could listen to forever - and I know you could do. So, today, it's time to give the people what they want. It's just a short one, but it's more story time with the Australian shadow puppetry master, Richard Bradshaw. In this episode, Richard talks about his youth while living in the UK with a whole host of artists, creatives and celebrities of the Sydney modern arts scene. We're back! Have a great weekend of festivities! PeteSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 1

Master and Apprentice - Katherine Hannaford
Mar 20 2020
Master and Apprentice - Katherine Hannaford
Welcome! We are so excited to bring you our first episode, published on World Puppetry Day, March 21, 2020. We all have a stake in talking about education, because we have all been to school. It has fascinated me that the more puppeteers and practitioners I come across, the more I found they have a background as an educator in some way. Katherine Hannaford is no exception to the rule. An art trained teacher librarian in a Western Sydney public high school, Katherine has brought truckloads of puppetry to her students. What’s more, she is immersing it into her curriculum writing in STEAM - a huge buzz word of the industry at the moment. And as my puppet mentor - it seems only fitting to begin this series with her.Katherine’s puppet story begins with her deep gratitude and adoration of her teacher, Marie-Martine Ferrari. Ferrari worked with Henson at the 1987 Festival of Puppetry in Charleville-Mezieres. At 23, Katherine would make the long journey to Canberra as often as she could to be taught how to build in Ferrari’s unique style of puppet making. As a practicing puppet builder for over 15 years, mostly in the Muppet style, Katherine entered my life about 4 years ago as my first puppet making teacher. The deep connection she has to her teacher and to her students is what makes Katherine a world class educator who I am so appreciative to know as my puppet master. More information including links to various people, places and things mentioned in this episode can be found on the One Orange Sock website. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dinosaurs! - Philip Millar
Mar 20 2020
Dinosaurs! - Philip Millar
This week, its all about Dinosaurs!I think when you have a passion about something, and you've held that passion for a long time, that is something to be celebrated!Philip Millar loves Dinosaurs. And boy I'm glad he does. He's brought dinosaurs back to life for Polyglot Puppet Theatre, Creature Technologies and through his own company, Puppet Vision.In this week's episode of Talking Sock, we talk about Philip's history with puppets and his journey in taking Dinosaurs and other larger than life creatures to the next level in entertainment.As a member of Creature Technologies, Philip helped developed Walking With Dinosaurs and also worked as a sculpture for Ron Mueck and Patricia Piccinini. Furthermore, he was the co-artistic director of Polyglot Puppet Theatre and started out working with Handspan Theatre Company.Philip has found himself looking back on a career filled with creativity and has shown no signs of slowing down. With Puppetvision, he continues to work in building commercial puppets while producing and directing his own shows. Whats most impressive, I think, is the versatility and technical skill Philip applies to problem solving using new media.Listen in to find out how Philip approaches producing new theatre and creating new puppets from every imaginable material.And head to One Orange Sock's website for links and mentions related to this cast.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bananas! - Kay Yasugi
Mar 20 2020
Bananas! - Kay Yasugi
Kay Yasugi has fashioned herself into a staple of Australian puppetry. Based in Sydney, Kay brings her true sense of joy to every performance, workshop and puppet she brings to life. She is a powerhouse theatre maker, performer and builder trying to create as many opportunities for puppeteers in Australia as she can. In this episode we talk about Kay’s love of Puppets, but also her love of puns! We find out about the landscape for learning puppetry at a tertiary level in Australia and ask Kay about how her experiences at The London School of Puppetry shaped her career. We follow this with a huge chat about all things puppetry in Australia today, Kay's show - Haenyeo Women of The Sea and get really, really into bananas when we meet her puppet pal, Chee Chee.Where to Find KayPupperoos: https://www.pupperoos.com/Digital Seagull: http://www.digitalseagull.com/Instagram: @kay_yasugiTwitter: @pupperoosFind show notes for this episode at: https://sites.google.com/view/oneorangesock/talking-sock/episode-3-kay-yasugiJoin the conversation on Twitter @talkingsockcastAnd find us on Instagram @oneorangesockproductionsDo you create or collaborate? What is puppetry’s appeal to you in this age of DIY?How many puppet puns can you deliver us on Twitter?Tell us about a time where you’ve connected to some one using a puppet…Puppeteers, Whats the BEST piece of feedback you’ve received about your work?Where do you present new work in Australia? Give a shout out to great venues you know?Could you write the book on Puppetry! Talk to us?Would you attend a school of puppetry in Sydney? Tell us what you’d love to learn!Thanks for listening to #talkingsockpodast.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Out of the Shadows, Into The Spotlight - Part 1 - Richard Bradshaw
Mar 21 2020
Out of the Shadows, Into The Spotlight - Part 1 - Richard Bradshaw
A Life In PuppetryIn this first half of our two-part interview with Richard Bradshaw, we talk about his beginnings at The Clovelly Puppet Theatre and The Marionette Theatre of Australia, his travels as a touring performer and his time with Jim Henson and Caroll Spinney-World renowned shadow puppet master Richard Bradshaw needs no introduction to the international puppetry community. His work has been seen by millions through a life time of stage performances all over the world and through television appearances including “The Muppet Show” and an hour-long documentary in the series “Jim Henson Presents The World of Puppetry”. Australian children grew up with performances of his shadow artistry on ABC TV’s “Playschool”, where his shadow puppets were broadcast for over 30 years. From 1976 to 1983 Richard was Artistic Director of Australia’s then largest puppetry company, the Marionette Theatre of Australia. Under his directorship the company secured a permanent theatre space in The Rocks in Sydney. As Artistic Director, Richard introduced modern puppetry techniques to Australian audiences and inspired many young puppeteers who were given the opportunity to work and learn from some of Australia’s best puppeteers and puppet makers.Richard has performed with his shadow puppets for audiences of children and adults for over 50 years to over 25 countries. In 1986 Richard received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) “for services to the arts as a puppeteer” and in 1987 he shared the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award “for sustained excellence in the field of puppetry”. Richard been a member of the international puppetry organisation, UNIMA, since 1964 and helped to establish UNIMA Australia in 1970. He is an honorary member of both organisations, and was President of UNIMA Australia from 2004 to 2008.In 2015 he published his book “Richard Bradshaw’s Guide to Shadow Puppets”, where he shares his techniques for designing, constructing, and performing with silhouette shadow puppets.Make sure you check out the show notes on our websiteAnd join the conversation on our socials@talkingsockcast (Twitter)@oneorangesockproductions (Instagram)Please consider becoming a Patron and support home grown creative content. Your support will help us make this podcast more accessible in creating Transcripts and will help us be able to sustain this cast!Thanks for listening to #TalkingSockpodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Out of The Shadows Into The Spotlight - Part 2 - Richard Bradshaw
Mar 27 2020
Out of The Shadows Into The Spotlight - Part 2 - Richard Bradshaw
Giving Life to PuppetryIn this second episode of our two-part interview with Richard Bradshaw, we discuss UNIMA Australia, a book about shadow puppets, Norman Hetherington of Mr Squiggle and how Richard makes his puppets so distinct and engaging for young audiences.-World renowned shadow puppet master Richard Bradshaw needs no introduction to the international puppetry community. His work has been seen by millions through a life time of stage performances all over the world and through television appearances including “The Muppet Show” and an hour-long documentary in the series “Jim Henson Presents The World of Puppetry”. Australian children grew up with performances of his shadow artistry on ABC TV’s “Playschool”, where his shadow puppets were broadcast for over 30 years. From 1976 to 1983 Richard was Artistic Director of Australia’s then largest puppetry company, the Marionette Theatre of Australia. Under his directorship the company secured a permanent theatre space in The Rocks in Sydney. As Artistic Director, Richard introduced modern puppetry techniques to Australian audiences and inspired many young puppeteers who were given the opportunity to work and learn from some of Australia’s best puppeteers and puppet makers.Richard has performed with his shadow puppets for audiences of children and adults for over 50 years to over 25 countries. In 1986 Richard received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) “for services to the arts as a puppeteer” and in 1987 he shared the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award “for sustained excellence in the field of puppetry”. Richard been a member of the international puppetry organisation, UNIMA, since 1964 and helped to establish UNIMA Australia in 1970. He is an honorary member of both organisations, and was President of UNIMA Australia from 2004 to 2008.In 2015 he published his book “Richard Bradshaw’s Guide to Shadow Puppets”, where he shares his techniques for designing, constructing, and performing with silhouette shadow puppets.Make sure you check out the show notes on our websiteAnd join the conversation on our socials@talkingsockcast (Twitter)@oneorangesockproductions (Instagram)Please consider becoming a Patron and support home grown creative content. Your support will help us make this podcast more accessible in creating Transcripts and will help us be able to sustain this cast!Thanks for listening to #TalkingSockPodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show on The Road - Kailah Cabanas
Apr 3 2020
Show on The Road - Kailah Cabanas
In this week's episode, I am joined in Sydney by Kailah Cabanas.A content warning for our listeners, this episode does include content related to mental health and disordered eating. If this content brings up sensitive thoughts or feelings, contact www.beyondblue.org.au / 1300 22 4636, www.kidshelpline.com.au / 1800 55 1800 or www.lifeline.org.au / 13 11 14Kailah, is an independent actor and puppeteer and trainer who is kicking goals in theatre, film and TV. She has toured with The National Theatre Company’s production of War Horse Australia for the characters of Joey, Topthorne and Goose and recently, Kailah toured with Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s production of Diary of A Wombat in the USA. Her other credits include CPD’s Spot The Dog national tour of Australia and Cirque du Soleil’s production Tooruk, the First Flight.I talk to Kailah about her experiences as a puppeteer in the industry of ‘big’ touring productions and working as a solo performing artist. I ask her how one auditions for a company like Cirque and what the process is. You'll find out - its a rigorous ride from start to finish! Kailah tells all about her personal struggles in coping with the demands brought on by the role and tells us how she has turned the experience into actions that benefit others.Make sure you check out the show notes on our websiteAnd join the conversation on our socials@talkingsockcast (Twitter)@oneorangesockproductions (Instagram)Please consider becoming a Patron and support home grown creative content. Your support will help us make this podcast more accessible in creating Transcripts and will help us be able to sustain this cast!Thanks for listening to #TalkingSockPodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dreamer in Conversation - Richard Hart
Apr 10 2020
Dreamer in Conversation - Richard Hart
In this week's episode, I am joined by President of UNIMA Australia and owner/ operator of Dram Puppets, Richard Hart.Richard has been performing under Dream Puppets for nearly 25 years and has been the President of UNIMA Australia for the past 6 years.Dream Puppet shows use black light puppetry where the signature character, Dreamer, adventures through time and space in Richard's highly visual and largely conceptual style. I visited him in his home where his elaborate studio that houses his 3x3 metre performance is out back. With his partner Julia, Richard has been delighting audiences all over Australia and the world, especially in China.We discuss what its like to run your own independent business through a NEIS scheme and develop international partnerships. We discuss music as a core component of Richard's work and the ways in which he considers and is driven by his audience. We discuss the landscape of Australian puppetry and Richard's upcoming show in which he touches on our relationship with the environment.Make sure you check out the show notes on our websiteAnd join the conversation on our socials@talkingsockcast (Twitter)@oneorangesockproductions (Instagram)Please consider becoming a Patron and support home grown creative content. Your support will help us make this podcast more accessible in creating Transcripts and will help us be able to sustain this cast!You can now also buy us a coffee!Thanks for listening to #TalkingSockPodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A Place For Puppetry - Sue Wallace
Apr 17 2020
A Place For Puppetry - Sue Wallace
Welcome to another episode of Talking Sock,In this week's episode I am joined by Sue Wallace, professional puppetry artist and co-artistic director of the Sydney Puppet Theatre. Sue was a puppeteer at the Marionette Theatre of Australia in Sydney during the 1980s. She engages in all aspects of puppetry including directing, building and designing workshops.We discuss the Sydney Puppet Theatre and its initiation of the "One Van" International Festival of Puppetry in Blackheath NSW, which Sue directed over 10 years in association with the Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre.In 2005 she was awarded The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust of Australia to research Puppet Centres in the USA, Europe, the UK and Japan in order to develop a working model for a Puppet Centre in Australia. Since 2010 she has been the director of ImaginArta – the Australian Puppet Centre, which is currently located in the Southern Highlands of NSW.Sue and her partner Steve Coupe from Sydney Puppet Theatre have toured extensively in Australia and have performed at several international puppet festivals and events around the world.We discuss puppet festivals among a tonne of other great stuff as we join Sue and Steve in their Southern Highlands home during one of the biggest and most terrifying great Aussie thunderstorms I have ever encountered while driving my little Mazda 3.Make sure you check out the show notes on our websiteAnd join the conversation on our socials@talkingsockcast (Twitter)@oneorangesockproductions (Instagram)Please consider becoming a Patreon supporter to help us bring more home grown creative content. Your support will help us make this podcast more accessible in creating Transcripts and will help us be able to sustain this cast!You can now also buy us a coffee!Thanks for listening to #TalkingSockPodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
An Honest Voice - Cam Ralph
May 20 2020
An Honest Voice - Cam Ralph
Cam Ralph's journey from creating characters in school textbooks, to animating them for the screen, to voicing and puppeteering them in some of Australia's most popular children's television and theatre shows is certainly one that feels full circle.Cam joins me on this week's episode to unpack his unique approach to character, and to give us his insights on finding the truth in all performance styles.Joining us by correspondence from his home on the New South Wales Central Coast, Cam and I catch up and reminisce about our days in the cast of North Shore Theatre Company's Avenue Q and discuss how life has changed for us as performing artists. Join us for a discussion about adapting to change and using this time to incubate your unique personal brand as a performing artist and online content creator.And join us for our new segment - 'The Geek Out' where we discuss something that we can't get enough of this week.Make sure you check out the show notes on our website released every Saturday.And follow Cam, @camo_ralph or find him at www.camralph.comAnd join the conversation on our socials@talkingsockcast (Twitter)@oneorangesockproductions (Instagram)Please consider becoming a Patreon supporter to help us bring more home grown creative content. Your support will help us make this podcast more accessible in creating Transcripts and will help us be able to sustain this cast!You can now also buy us a coffee!Thanks for listening to #TalkingSockPodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Talent, Drive, Luck and Bellybutton Lint - Dennis Murphy
May 27 2020
Talent, Drive, Luck and Bellybutton Lint - Dennis Murphy
Dennis Murphy has been working as an independent puppeteer for over 30 years. Based in Old Toongabbie NSW, he is Australia's resident expert in Commedia Dell'Arte Puppetry.Growing up in the prairies of Iowa, Dennis was fed on vaudeville and puppetry and has become a great ventriloquist and entertainer. His breadth of skills and his longevity come down to his intricate methods of research, which he describes as his 'obsessions' and his rigorous rehearsal and writing process when developing material.Join Dennis and I as we discuss his penchant for coffee and book collecting, his incredible round trip to puppetry via a life that has seen him drafted into the army, qualifying as a Spanish linguist, converting to Buddhism and becoming a member of The International Brotherhood of Magicians.And join us for our new segment - 'The Geek Out' where we discuss something that we can't get enough of this week.Make sure you check out the show notes on our website released every Saturday.And find Dennis at www.murphyspuppets.com.au or on Facebook @murphyspuppetsAnd join the conversation on our socials@talkingsockcast (Twitter)@oneorangesockproductions (Instagram)Please consider becoming a Patreon supporter to help us bring more home grown creative content. Your support will help us make this podcast more accessible in creating Transcripts and will help us be able to sustain this cast!You can now also buy us a coffee!Thanks for listening to #TalkingSockPodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Playing Superheroes - Drew Wilson
Jun 3 2020
Playing Superheroes - Drew Wilson
Puppeteer, actor and writer Drew Wilson was always the guy with the career I wanted in puppetry. With roles in Australia's very first Warhorse, to playing the heroic title role of Lazer Beak Man for Dead Puppet Society, Drew has fascinated me in the fact that he maintains his terminal loveliness while also abstaining from labelling himself as any one kind of artist. In this industry Drew has harnessed interests and embraced his weirdo to find spaces where he can play to his strengths.In this interview, a "D&D Master, cross stitching, fitness coach, actor/puppet who also writes"... is able to pour out his heart on the hero's journey, storytelling, finding acceptance and trust within his support network, and the highs and lows of finding the right representation in Australia.I gained so much personally from this talk with Drew, and what it has taught me is that sometimes our greatest strength, our superpower perhaps, can be our capacity for vulnerability and our willingness to break the mold.Join Drew and I now, here on Talking Sock.You can find Drew on Instagram @drewdrew_wilson and through his agent, Smith & Jones Management.And make sure you check out the show notes on our website released every Saturday.Join the conversation on our socials@talkingsockcast (Twitter)@oneorangesockproductions (Instagram)Please consider becoming a Patreon supporter to help us bring more home grown creative content. Your support will help us make this podcast more accessible in creating Transcripts and will help us be able to sustain this cast!You can now also buy us a coffee!Thanks for listening to #TalkingSockPodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talking-sock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.