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Mission
Mum Puppettheatre makes art that moves, creating theatre beyond the scope of human actors, often without words. We integrate the plastic, visual and performing arts by creating stunning, emotionally compelling and breathtakingly beautiful theatre, using puppets, masks and the human body. Our mission is to collaborate with artists of all disciplines and backgrounds to explore the interdisciplinary nature of puppetry, so we can expand and engage the imaginations of people of all ages, independent of language or culture, on stage, on tour and in the classroom.
Philosophy
Mum Puppettheatre transcends barriers of age and language in audiences around the world. We strive to be truly universal as we introduce, entertain and educate people of all backgrounds in the art of puppetry and theatre. Our audiences don't just watch - they discover. After each performance, all audiences are given a chance to look behind the scenes, to ask questions, and to see things up close, which serves to inspire them to create their own performances.
Focus
In performance and the classroom, Mum Puppettheatre integrates incredible visual images with movement and music influences from cultures around the world. Mum Puppettheatre has created a successfully engaging and compelling form of theatre since 1985, establishing itself in Philadelphia, the nation and the international theatre scene as a company of rare artistic vision.
History
Founded in 1985, Mum Puppettheatre is a touring theatre company that performs original works around the world and in our home city of Philadelphia. We have toured on 4 continents since 1990. Mum Puppettheatre was the first American theatre company to perform in Romania after the revolution of 1991.
Mum Puppettheatre has won three Citations for Excellence from the North American chapter of Union Internationale de la Marionnette. In Philadelphia, Mum Puppettheatre has won thirteen Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. Founding Artistic Director Robert Smythe is the winner of a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, and was one of the last Solo Performer Fellows of the National Endowment for the Arts. Robert is widely regarded as one of the foremost puppeteers in the United States whose work has been seen all over the world.
Specialties
Mum Puppettheatre produces at least two original works annually - first in our performance space and then on tour as part of our repertoire. We travel to theatres, schools, and other presenting organizations throughout the year. Mum has extensive touring experience - we know how to pack light and bring just about everything with us. We can set up and perform wherever you are - from a fully-equipped theatre or auditorium to an all-purpose room in an elementary school.
We also spend our time on the road teaching through residencies and workshops, helping participants learn new ways to express themselves through body language and puppetry. Our education programs won the first Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre Education in 1995.
Each year, Mum Puppettheatre reaches approximately 32,000 individual audience members and approximately 6,200 students.
Mum Puppettheatre is on the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Roster of Artists in Education, and we are on the Roster of Artists of the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour program. Your organization may be eligible for subsidy of performance and residency fees.
For more information about taking part in these programs, contact us at info@mumpuppet.org or 215.925.8686.
Mum Puppettheatre. Art that moves.
Mum Puppettheatre is a member of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia.
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