Buxton Drama League teams up with Funny Wonders for Ayckbourn Classic

Buxton Drama League’s latest production has presented a unique challenge for the group. They’re presenting Alan Ayckbourn’s classic comedy Season’s Greetings in November, one of the most memorable scenes of which is a terrible puppet show staged by one of the characters.

Director Robbie Carnegie explains: ‘As with all Alan Ayckbourn’s plays, he’s very specific about what has to happen on stage. In Season’s Greetings, his character Bernard stages a play which requires three little pigs, a wolf, a postman and a dog! Where would we get these puppets, and who would teach our actors how to operate them? I’m always keen to collaborate with other local groups (we brought in local folk musicians for my past show, The Winter’s Tale), so I had the idea of contacting Buxton’s puppet theatre, Funny Wonders, to help us.’

Ali Quas-Cohen from Funny Wonders continues: ‘It is great to link up with other Buxton organisations and we were thrilled to be asked to make Bernard’s puppets for BDL. It was initially daunting as marionettes are not something we’ve focussed on in the past but the “they need to look homemade” brief was reassuring! The puppets took over two months to make. We had a couple workshops with the BDL and the Funny Wonders team – it’s always great to get people involved and work together, particularly when there is so much papier macheing to do! They had their challenges, such as needing to be operated with just one hand and making them with materials Bernard would have had at home and in a way such a character would have made them but I think we got there.’

Robbie adds: ‘With Ali’s help, we now have these fantastic puppets. Now the only challenge will be for the actors, especially Paul Harrison, playing Bernard, to get to grips with them! It promises to be an unforgettable part of this hilarious play.’

Buxton Drama League presents Season’s Greetings at Buxton’s Pavilion Arts Centre from 26–28 November. Tickets are available from the Opera House Box Office on 01298 72190 or buxtonoperahouse.org.uk. If you’d like to make a puppet, Funny Wonders run regular making workshops at The Green Man Gallery. Please visit their website for details www.funnywonders.org.uk