TF+ Projects
Voxpups
In August 2009 the TF and Bristol-based puppet-masters Green Ginger joined forces to deliver an education project at The Park Local Opportunities Centre in Knowle West.
Voxpups gave a group of 11 – 13 year olds from the Knowle area the chance to learn the skills involved in manipulating life-size latex puppets. Under Green Ginger’s expert guidance, the youngsters created an 11 minute-long puppet film called KnowleEDGE, an irreverent and at times very funny mockumentary-style film, all the more impressive because it was created over quite a tight timeframe by youngsters the vast majority of whom had no experience of manipulating puppets, shooting film or, indeed, of expressing their thoughts to anyone beyond their immediate circle. A couple of participants came to Voxpups via Project X, which specifically works with youngsters who are described as ‘most likely to offend’, and we were delighted that one of them emerged to be one of the most able and committed puppeteers of the group.
At the end of September KnowleEDGE was screened at The Park and each participant was presented with their own DVD copy of the film. The project was made possible by the generous support of Beachcroft LLP. Senior Partner Mike Bothamley said:
We are delighted to be able to support another project at the Park. After helping to get the Building Skills programme off the ground over the last three years, we were keen to find an arts-led project we could support and one aimed at younger people. We also wanted to do something in conjunction with the Tobacco Factory Theatre, another great South Bristol institution whose mission is to use the arts to help regenerate that part of the city. At Beachcroft, we believe whole-heartedly in encouraging creativity, self-expression and ambition – particularly amongst young people whose skills and talent might one day be reinvested in the local community. The Voxpups project is another showcase of the tremendous potential which exists here in Bristol and we congratulate everyone involved in making it a success.
You can watch part 1 of the Voxpups video here. Part 2 can be found on youtube.