Charlotte Jowett
Theatrical Storyteller and Puppeteer
I am very comfortable with audience banter; I talk to people, listening and responding to what they have to say. These exchanges are a big part of story sharing and telling and the social interaction that naturally occurs with it.
My storytelling style is confident and upbeat - as much about the performance itself, as it is about bringing people together and building a warm sense of connection through the thrill of sharing a story.
Sharing and listening to stories is a very human activity. Adding puppets into the mix takes the drama to another level. I also create hand illustrated backdrops and include interesting props, sound, music and songs to enrich the narratives.
My voice, face and body are key points for engagement with my audience. I act out the characters, give them voices and personalities and emphasise the drama of every situation with theatrical flair.
I walk amongst my audiences bringing my puppets to speak with them, creating conversational opportunities and social encounters in real time.
And of course, I don't perform alone! I have a wonderful troupe of actors - an extensive collection of beautiful and unusual puppets who always steal the show. I make many of these puppets myself; others I have collected from around the world. Still others have been given to me by friends who know my passion for puppets.
I have; string puppets, marionettes, hand puppets, stick puppets, kinetic and static puppets, flying puppets, animated cardboard puppets as well as a fabulous shadow puppet theatre which I created from an old cardboard suitcase.
Where practical, I love to give people the opportunity to hold and touch my puppets, to see how they are made and how they work. This frequently leads to stories and thoughts from people about their own lives. Children are particularly fascinated by the workings of puppets. You can see them thinking about how they might design and make their own.
Puppets really are magical creatures with their own personalities and presence. It is a very special moment when someone starts up a conversation with a puppet. It is as though I were not there at all, operating the strings.
I absolutely love being a storyteller and puppeteer. Being able to share my craft with others brings me huge joy and personal fulfillment
