Morph Puppet Festival

16/08/2022

Did you come along to MORPH Puppet Festival?
Help our chances of running the festival again one day by filling out this quick survey.
Thank you so much for your time!
From the MORPH Team x

We would be very grateful if you could spend a minute giving us some feedback on your experience at our festival so that we can learn and make improvements if we organise another one. If you're a parent/guardian, you can invite your child(ren) to answer some of the questions if they were the reason....

17/07/2022

15/07/2022

WE'D LIKE TO GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE WORKERS. Everyone who gave their time to ensure Morph Puppet Festival was a success! THANK YOU SO MUCH 👏🥰

THE VOLUNTEERS...
Bowen Penn
Cat Levine
Dave King
Erin Halliwell
Gill West
Hannah Hunter
Hector Danilo
Jada Rolston
Jan Danilo
Jessie Mortensen
Karen Hawtin-Chapman
Kerikeri Rotary members
Les Robinson
Liam Penn
Lydia Baillie-Bellew
Maura Baillie-Bellew
Pippa Mortensen
Rubee Mortensen
Sam Penn
Scott Hunter
& the lovely Turner Centre Volunteers

And the awesome TURNER CENTRE TEAM...
Iris Klapwijk
Ginny Pearson
Sue Pilling
Spencer Fairhurst
Gerry Paul
Merv Pinny

We hope we've remembered everyone, and would also like to thank those who kindly offered their help too.
And many thanks once again to all the people who came along to enjoy the festival. We hope you had fun!

Check out the highlights on our website:
https://morphpuppetfestival.com/

12/07/2022

⭐️It takes an army of goodness to make projects like SHADOW WORLDS come alive. Lucky for us, that's exactly what we had!

Huge thanks to everyone who contributed, and everyone who decided to come along and take a peek at this unique shadow puppet experience celebrating Matariki* 👀

Spark, Far North Creative Communities Scheme, Turner Centre, Belltech Events, The Magic Play House, Kerikeri Homeschoolers, Springbank School, Kerikeri High School, Jessie, Pippa & Rubee, Hannah, Erin, Liam, Bowen & Sam, Jan, Les & Hector 🙏

(*Look further down our feed to see what we did!)

11/07/2022

WHAT WAS 'POETRY BY MONSTERS' LIKE? 👀
Our lovely photographer and fellow organiser, Claire 'Flash' Gordon, was unfortunately out of action for MORPH! and we didn't even attempt to try capturing the brilliant play, POETRY BY MONSTERS, on our phone cameras! Luckily, Peter de Graaf from the Northern Advocate came to watch 📸
Take a look at stills from this mesmerising Company of Giants creation, inspired by artwork by Soju Shots.
With thanks to PDG x

(P.S. The article mentions the Hipstamatics, but sadly we were unable to confirm enough ticket sales due to the current surge of winter bugs and covid. We hope to bring them back in better days!)

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/photos-morph-festival-brings-puppets-alive-in-kerikeri/PPFNUPEY5HHCQ37DP47QO5N3PU/

Puppet show delivers Northland kids a message about looking after the environment.

10/07/2022

And this is the last of the festival paraphernalia leaving the Turner Centre where we've spent most of the last four days... two signs, three flags and some sleepy humans! Many thanks to everyone who joined us over that time, and a special shoutout to the families who came to just about every single event! We had so much fun, and we really hope you did too 😍
We have so many people to thank for helping us pull this event together, and lots of pictures still to post, so stay tuned over the next week.
Nighty-night from the Morph! Team 😴

10/07/2022

After a day packed full of some very productive workshops by Company of Giants and artist, Soju Shots, we think there are some families who now have a monster or a robot living in their house (or both!) 😈🤖 Thanks for coming along, everyone!

These workshops were made possible with help from Creative Northland, BOI Whangaroa Community Board and the Turner Centre, and the awesome creative skills of Company of Giants and Soju Shots 🥳

09/07/2022

Everyone was very surprised when the cats found a huge possum in the tree at The Magical Midnight Adventure!
Thanks to Kerikeri Youth Theatre and The Magic Play House for this beautiful play 🥰

Kerikeri Theatre Company The Magic Play House

09/07/2022

⭐️ Magical Shadow Worlds! ⭐️
Thanks to all the local schools who created the nine Matariki star tales. You did an awesome job!

08/07/2022

And we're open! Come on down, meet and play with the puppets and become a Morph Puppet Master!
$10 entry / age 5 and under FREE

TURNER CENTRE TODAY

08/07/2022

SHADOW WORLDS Tonight from 6pm at The Turner Centre
⭐️If you're booking to come to this free event tonight, you'll need extra information on how to prepare audio for your visit.
PLEASE EMAIL US at [email protected] after you have registered. We have already emailed the info out to everyone who has registered so far.
Thank you 🙏

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/jul/shadow-worlds

Shadow Worlds Come and watch nine tales of Matariki told in magical shadow puppet plays, and set to the beautiful audio of Spark's 0800MATARIKI, with creative inte...

08/07/2022

Oh wow! Just snuck into the wings of a POETRY BY MONSTERS rehearsal ahead of tomorrow's debut. Look what I saw 👀 So exciting!!! Still tickets available. Don't miss it!
SAT 11AM / 2PM / 4PM
THE TURNER CENTRE Kerikeri
https://www.iticket.co.nz/go-to/morph-puppet-fest

08/07/2022

Along with everything else we've got going on tomorrow*, we are also joined by the amazing Soju Shots, who is an artist extraordinaire, creating exquisite, magical pictures full of colour and life. Come and check out his exhibition in the Turner Centre. He has artwork, prints and cards for sale, and we challenge you not to fall in love with them!
*EVERYTHING ELSE
- The Magnificent World of Morph! Interactive Exhibition
⏰ 11am to 4pm
- 'Poetry by Monsters' Play by Company of Giants & Soju Shots
⏰ 11am/2pm/4pm
- Shadow Worlds - Matariki Shadow Puppet experience
⏰ 6pm/7.15pm

07/07/2022

TICKET UPDATE for TODAY's PLAY at The Turner Centre
⭐️11am - SOLD OUT
⭐️1pm - We will still have some door sales available for this performance if you haven't booked a place yet.
⭐️5.30pm - SOLD OUT
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/jul/magical-midnight

Can't make today, but still want to catch a show? Come to POETRY BY MONSTERS tomorrow - it's going to be amazing! (age 5+-100)
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/jul/poetry-by-monsters

The Magical Midnight AdventureWhat magical adventures await Oliver and Arlo as they explore their backyard under the light of the silvery moon? Do you know what the ni...

07/07/2022

FRIDAY EVENING | PUPPET POWER! with Kylie & Friends
TURNER CENTRE, KERIKERI
Kylie Penn, otherwise known as the 'Puppet Lady', is running a special workshop as part of MORPH! Puppet Festival.
Puppets inspire trust, stimulate imagination, encourage creative play and aid discovery, and can be used in so many ways in a learning situation. The workshop will focus on bringing a puppet to life and is perfect for educators, play therapists, performers, and anyone with an interest in puppets.
Kylie has been making puppets and puppeteering for 25 years, and has a wealth of experience to share with you. If you have a puppet, bring it along, or borrow one of Kylie's on the night. (She has quite a few of them!!!)
Tickets from The Turner Centre Box Office and iTicket:
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/jul/kylie-and-friends-puppet-power

07/07/2022

🔥 Say goodbye to a boring SUNDAY with our exciting WORKSHOPS by Company of Giants and artist, Soju Shots! We still have places left but they're going fast. MAKE A MONSTER (5+), BUILD A ROBOT (5+), or learn THE ART OF DEVISING THEATRE (13+) with the best. Guaranteed creative fun!
To round your weekend off nicely, come and see Company of Giants in action THIS SATURDAY with 3 performances of POETRY BY MONSTERS - not just a brand new play, but an immersive theatrical experience for ages 5-100.
At the same time, we have THE MAGNIFICENT WORLD OF MORPH next door - an interactive exhibition about all kinds of puppetry.
It's all happening at The Turner Centre this weekend!
Tickets available for everything from the Box Office and https://www.iticket.co.nz/go-to/morph-puppet-fest . .
With heaps of thanks to BOI Whangaroa Community Board, The Turner Centre, Arvida, Creative Communities, Creative Northland, Spark & all those who have helped us put this together 🙏

07/07/2022

We had lots of creative fun at the Magic in the Bush workshop this morning! Thanks to everyone who came along. We were so impressed with your mini puppet theatres and hope you create lots of plays at home with them!

05/07/2022

HAPPENING TOMORROW! 👀 Make and take home your very own mini Puppet Theatre at the...
MAGIC IN THE BUSH WORKSHOP | The Turner Centre
⏰10am - 12pm on Thursday
With all the materials and guidance provided, this two-hour workshop is an entertaining, creative activity perfect for any age and, with your very own mini puppet theatre made to take away, the fun can continue at home.

Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
The ticket price of $20 covers one family group of between one and five people. The price includes a kit with one puppet theatre and a set of paper rod puppets to take home.

And on Sunday, we have MAKE A MONSTER and BUILD A ROBOT workshops with Company of Giants!

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/jul/magic-in-the-bush-workshop
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/jul/workshops-giants-soju-shots

Make and take home your very own miniPuppet Theatre! With all the materials and guidance provided, this two-hourworkshop is an entertaining, creative activity perfect ...

05/07/2022

🥳 Due to demand, we've released more tickets for the 1pm show of our Friday play, THE MAGICAL MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE! There are still a handful available for the 5.30 show and 11am is sold out.

What magical adventures await Oliver and Arlo as they explore their backyard under the light of the silvery moon? Do you know what the night creatures of the garden get up to as the clock strikes midnight? Kerikeri Youth Theatre bring to life an original tale inspired by the picture book, 'Oliver in the Garden'.

This beautiful show has been designed with children aged 3-7 in mind but is a magical experience for audiences of all ages.

And for all ages 5-100, we have the debut of POETRY BY MONSTERS - a theatrical experience by Company of Giants, with three performances on Saturday.

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/jul/magical-midnight

The Magical Midnight AdventureWhat magical adventures await Oliver and Arlo as they explore their backyard under the light of the silvery moon? Do you know what the ni...

04/07/2022

💦☂️SHADOW WORLDS is now on SATURDAY 9 JULY at 6.00pm and 7.15pm!
Due to the unexpected adverse weather event this week, to keep people safe and warm, we are postponing both Shadow Worlds evenings until the evening of Saturday 9th July. We will move everything indoors to the Turner Centre Plaza. Ticket times will remain the same, and we’ll consolidate two evenings bookings into one*. If you can't make it to the new day and time, please could you contact iTicket to release your tickets as the places are filling up fast - 0508 484 253 or [email protected] - Thank you!🙏

If you've already registered, you'll be receiving an email from us, but to summarise, if you had a booking on Wednesday or Thursday at 6pm, come to the Turner Centre on Saturday at 6pm. If you booked on Wednesday or Thursday at 7.15pm, please come on Saturday at 7.15pm. You will still need access to Spotify on your own device with headphones. There will be people available to help you with that if you arrive a bit earlier.

Apologies for any inconvenience – we hope you can still make it!

04/07/2022

🌟A PLAY TO SPARKLE UP YOUR SATURDAY
We are supremely excited about POETRY BY MONSTERS – the brand-new play by Company of Giants, inspired by the art of Soju Shots. Here are some shots of what you can expect – a beautifully-realised theatrical experience with an unusual story behind it. Come and be mesmerised, whatever your age. Suitable for ages 5-100, so you can bring all the whanau and there are three performance to choose from.

At the same time, we’re running THE MAGNIFICENT WORLD OF MORPH – an interactive exhibition on puppets and puppetry. Make it a fun day out!
Then return on Sunday and MAKE A MONSTER, BUILD A ROBOT or learn THE ART OF DEVISING THEATRE with Company of Giants and Soju Shots themselves!

ALL THESE EVENTS are at The Turner Centre.
TICKETS available from the Turner Centre Box Office and iTicket: https://www.iticket.co.nz/go-to/morph-puppet-fest

(Photography by Nimmy Santhosh)

04/07/2022

❌ HIPSTAMATICS EVENT CANCELLED ❌
Due to the current surge of winter illnesses, we haven’t been able to confirm enough ticket sales for the Hipstamatics concert on Saturday 9th of July, so unfortunately we have no choice but to cancel this event. If you have already bought a ticket, you will be refunded the ticket cost through iTicket. Hopefully we’ll be able to reschedule Hipstamatics for our next festival! Thanks to all those who bought tickets. We apologise for any inconvenience 🙏
. .
Andy please message us about your ticket prize and we'll see if we can do something else for you! Many apologies.

04/07/2022

🔥 We are filling up nicely for The Magical Midnight Adventure with the 11am event already sold out! Grab your tickets while you can for this beautiful play by Kerikeri Youth Theatre and The Magic Play House. Aimed at 3-7 year olds.
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/jul/magical-midnight

We still have tickets available for POETRY BY MONSTERS on Saturday - an enchanting, immersive theatre experience by Company of Giants and amazing artist Soju Shots, who will also be running some awesome kids workshops on Sunday - 'Make a Monster' and 'Build a Robot'. The play is aimed at ages 5-100 - grown-ups will love it too, so bring the whole whanau! 🥰
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/jul/poetry-by-monsters
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2022/jul/workshops-giants-soju-shots

04/07/2022

With just a couple of days to go before MORPH! Puppet Festival starts, we'd like to thank everyone who has helped to make it happen. It truly takes a lot of generosity to create something like this, and we're so grateful for everyone who has contributed in many different ways...

A BIG THANK YOU 🙏 to Bay of Islands - Whangaroa Community Board, Turner Centre, Far North Creative Communities Scheme, Arvida Te Puna Waiora, Spark, Creative Northland
And for our Shadow Worlds event, special mention to Kerikeri Homeschoolers, Kerikeri High School, Springbank School, the Magic Play House, Flash Gordon Photography and all the participating shopkeepers (we'll be giving you a special mention closer to the event).
And of course, our amazing whanau and friends who stepped forward (or were gently coerced) to help us out behind the scenes!

03/07/2022

⭐️STARTS THURSDAY for 5 DAYS! Come out and play!
Get your tickets/register at the Turner Centre Box Office or iTicket:
https://www.iticket.co.nz/go-to/morph-puppet-fest

SCHEDULE | All Events at The Turner Centre, Kerikeri 👇

⭐️MAGIC IN THE BUSH WORKSHOP
(Thu 7th July) $20
Make and take home your very own mini Puppet Theatre! Materials and guidance included.

⭐️THE MAGICAL MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE (all ages)
(Fri 8th July) $7
What magical adventures await Oliver and Arlo as they explore their backyard in the silvery moonlight? Kerikeri Youth Theatre bring to life an original tale inspired by picturebook 'Oliver in the Garden'.

⭐️KYLIE & FRIENDS PUPPET POWER
(Fri 8th July) $25/$12
Learn how to harness the power of puppets in this interesting workshop and talk by puppeteer and puppet-maker, Kylie Penn from The Magic Play House, and friends.

⭐️THE MAGNIFICENT WORLD OF MORPH!
(Sat 9th July) $10
Tour our huge collection of puppets, let your imagination go wild in our interactive areas, make something cool at a puppet workshop, take advantage of our one-of-a-kind photo opportunities, and graduate as a Morph Puppet Master.

⭐️POETRY BY MONSTERS (age 5-100)
(Sat 9th July) $15
We're so excited about this unique play by Company of Giants and Soju Shots! Join a mad, wild, lonely, happy, sad bunch of clown monsters on a quest to save the forest and the sky. Recommended for ages 5-100. (See their additional workshops below...)

⭐️SHADOW WORLDS
(Sat 9th July)
Come and watch nine tales of Matariki told in magical shadow puppet plays, set to the beautiful audio recordings of Spark's 0800MATARIKI. Two showings.
(Free event, registration essential)
*You will need to bring your own device and headphones with Spotify loaded (a free version is available).

⭐️WORKSHOPS with COMPANY OF GIANTS & SOJU SHOTS
(Sun 10th July) $12/$20
Join the clever creators and cast of ‘Poetry by Monsters’ for THREE cool Workshops...
1. Making Monsters (age 5+)
2. Building Robots (age 5+)
3. The Art of Devising Theatre (age 16+)

(*Please note, the HIPSTAMATICS concert has been cancelled and refunds will be issued. Please check our page for more details.) . .

With thanks to support from the Far North District Council - BOI Whangaroa Community Board, Creative Communities, Spark, Arvida, Creative Northland, The Turner Centre, local schools and participating shopkeepers in Kerikeri 🙏

WEBSITE: https://morphpuppetfestival.com/

02/07/2022

🎭 "THE ART OF DEVISING THEATRE" WORKSHOP
with Company of Giants and Soju Shots
SUN 10 JULY | 10am-2.30pm | TURNER CENTRE Kerikeri
Age: 16+
Cost: $20.00
Don't miss this chance to learn about theatre-making and performance for the stage from an inspirational pro-company.

Company of Giants is a professional Whangarei-based theatre collective, who make vibrant, original theatre that celebrates, excites and challenges the artists and audience.
"Forever curious about the world around us, we use experience, research and everyday objects to tell stories – stories that are full of magic, poetry and misunderstood monsters.
Come along and get acquainted with some practical devising tools as we share how we go about investigating and building a piece of work by retracing our steps in this latest collaboration with Soju Shots. This will be a hands-on workshop where we explore creative processes and devising practices with objects, images and ideas."

Be inspired! Come along on Saturday and see POETRY BY MONSTERS by Company of Giants/Soju Shots before you do the workshop! And they are also running some workshops aimed at younger people - MAKE A MONSTER and BUILD A ROBOT

TICKETS FOR WORKSHOPS, PLAYS AND ALL FESTIVAL EVENTS AVAILABLE THROUGH iTICKET:
https://www.iticket.co.nz/go-to/morph-puppet-fest

Take a look at some behind the scenes work for Poetry by Monsters on the Company of Giants page: https://www.facebook.com/companyofgiants

(Beautiful photo by Nimmy Santhosh for Company of Giants)
. .
Kerikeri Theatre Company

01/07/2022

🐥Have you seen Tweetledum around town today? If you spot him make sure you give him a high five and get a Morph Puppet Festival schedule. We kick off on Wednesday with lots of fun stuff for five days!
https://www.iticket.co.nz/go-to/morph-puppet-fest

01/07/2022

👀WEEKEND WATCH | Table Manners (3 mins)
'Three creatures go in search of food in the woods but find that there ain't no such thing as a free lunch'.
Spoiler Alert - not everyone survives in this tale created by Rebecca Manley, who used cardboard to craft her wonderful characters.

MORPH PUPPET FESTIVAL starts next week in Kerikeri, with 8 events in 5 days. Get your tickets from the Turner Centre box office and iTicket.

https://vimeo.com/76425690

'Three creatures go in search of food in the woods but find that there ain't no such thing as a free lunch'. Table Manners is director Rebecca Manley's…

30/06/2022

WHO'S COMING? 👀
Company of Giants are bringing a brand new, enchanting play and three cool workshops to Morph! They make original, vibrant and unruly theatre that celebrates the hearts and minds of its collaborators and encourages the creation of work that excites and delights the makers and audience alike.
For the play they're teaming up with incredible artist Soju Shots to amplify their magic!
Take a look at their planning and brainstorming sessions to see how much work goes into their creations.

POETRY BY MONSTERS | Sat 9 July | Turner Centre
Suitable for ages 5-100
Shows starting at 11am / 2pm / 4pm
Admission: $15

WORKSHOPS | Sun 10 July | Turner Centre
1. Make a Monster - 2 hours (ages 5+) $12
2. Build a Robot - 2 hours (ages 5+) $12
3. The Art of Devising Theatre - 4 hours (age 16+) $20

Find our more and book your tickets here:
https://www.iticket.co.nz/go-to/morph-puppet-fest
or at The Turner Centre Box Office

Stay updated with Company of Giants:
https://www.facebook.com/companyofgiants

See some beautiful artworks by Soju Shots:
https://www.facebook.com/konbae

30/06/2022

🐍Who wins the tickets for Hipstamatics and Poetry by Monsters? Let'ssss find out!
Many thanks to everyone who entered our competitions, and commiserations to those who lucked out. There may be another chance to win coming up on More FM, so stay tuned 👂