Ronnie Burkett on why he chose the miniature world (Part 1 of 20)
Ronnie Burkett on why he chose the miniature world (Part 1 of 20)
“I think audiences think I’m a dark weirdo”
Puppeteer Ronnie Burkett discusses what led him to puppetry, and the course he charted for himself at a very young age.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on the puppet as a storytelling device (Part 2 of 20)
Ronnie Burkett discusses the use of the puppet as a tool for telling stories in the theatre.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
“I don’t always have to like what’s coming out of those characters’ mouths”
Puppeteer Ronnie Burkett on realizing that all characters are not good or bad, and how to create a true character.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on investing a puppet with life (Part 3 of 20)
“Art is the personal contribution about the continuing conversation about life”
Ronnie Burkett talks about mentors, what a puppeteer does and how he sees art and his contribution.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on his favourite kinds of characters to play (Part 4 of 20)
“those characters (are the ones) that have taught me to be a better actor”
Puppeteer Ronnie Burkett discuss who are his favourite characters and why, and how he creates them.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on apprenticeship and finding your style (Part 5 of 20)
“I always had the understanding that a lot was going to be expected of me”
Ronnie Burkett talks about his apprenticeships and the mentors who brought him to where he is today.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on working only to make money (Part 6 of 20)
“There’s only one life as far as I know, and I don’t want to sing anymore songs about eating your broccoli”
Ronnie talks about the work we need to do for the money, and the point at which he could work strictly on the projects that he found interesting.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on writing, deadlines, budgets and timelines (Part 7 of 20)
“I write first now…and then the snowball starts rolling down the hill”
Ronnie talks about his creative process, who does what and how a show is created from all angles.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on the importance of workshoping scripts (Part 8 of 20)
“People come to these workshops to be part of the process”
Puppeteer Ronnie Burkett discusses the workshop process and why it is invaluable to both artist and audience.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on his process from sketch to sculpt (Part 9 of 20)
“For me? I’m not such a size queen with what I do onstage.”
Ronnie talks about the sheer number of puppets needed for multiple character and the part of his work he will not relinquish to others.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on where puppets go when they retire (Part 10 of 20)
“Some of the ones before Tinka…uh…went.” “Went WHERE??”
Puppeteer Ronnie Burkett talks about puppets that are no longer in use, why some puppets fall out of favour and what three things combine to make a puppet a Cadillac.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on maintaining originality in the world of theatre (Part 11 of 20)
“The best puppeteers aren’t secretive (because) technique isn’t what makes you unique”
Ronnie talks about originality, tricks, learning from other puppeteers, and his favourite moment of the last decade.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on the history and emergence of puppetry (Part 12 of 20)
“In terms of geeky puppet genealogy, I consider Tony Sark my grandfather”
Ronnie talks about the reemergence of puppetry, its resurgence up through World War 2, the dominance of marionettes through to the 50s, and what killed it all.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on the audience's attention (Part of 13 of 20)
“The marionette is the cool pretty girl at the party…she’s more detached”
Ronnie Burkett on mime, which part is the mask and the moment you can sense the audience accepting the puppet as the entity and the whole show is born.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on puppetry as 'low' art (Part 14 of 20)
“I’m telling people an acoustic story every night…and I think people are starving for that”
Ronnie Burkett on puppets, cartoons, digitization and the ability to tell an acoustic story with low art.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on technique in puppetry (Part 15 of 20)
“saw you looking, give it a try, let me know what you think”
Ronnie Burkett discusses American controls vs British controls, marionette wrists and refining those controls.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on puppetry in different cultures (Part 16 of 20)
“what’s considered my dark side in Canada is considered my deep side in Germanic countries”
Ronnie Burkett discusses the different reactions to his work in different cultures and countries.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on satire in puppet theatre (Part 17 of 20)
“and the audience got to vote on whether he lived or died…and it’s a puppet”
Ronnie Burkett on satire, improv, and how artifice at a remove is a freer and open palette for his work.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto. Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on an actor's voice and training (Part 18 of 20)
“I did that show 1200 times, in parks, schools, Armed Forces tours…”
Ronnie Burkett talks about his training, what he could do then, and what he does now.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett on puppetry today (Part 19 of 20)
“there’s a lot of interesting young puppetry starting…”
Ronnie Burkett talks about the current must knows in world puppetry today.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.
Ronnie Burkett's puppet demonstration (Part 20 of 20)
Ronnie Burkett offers a small demonstration in the Factory Theatre.
One of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. In this series of interviews with Canadian actor RH Thomson, Burkett talks about characters, storytelling, process and more.
In 2001 Ronnie Burkett received the President's Award from the Puppeteers of America, and in 2003 the Herbert Whittaker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. In 2009 he was awarded the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for Design. In June 2019, he was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Interviewed by R.H. Thomson on February 7th, 2012 in Toronto.
Filming location courtesy of Factory Theatre.