~The History & Philosophy Behind The Little Theatre~
~The History & Philosophy Behind The Little Theatre~
The Puppets & Players Little Theatre was first imagined by Laurie Branham and her father around 1987 when they built a small working model of a puppet theater on wheels. Inspired by the famous La Scala Opera House in Milan, Italy, they began construction on this elaborate gypsy wagon with the idea that Laurie would some day travel around the county performing marionette shows and … that is exactly what she does.
The Puppets & Players Little Theatre was first imagined by Laurie Branham and her father around 1987 when they built a small working model of a puppet theater on wheels. Inspired by the famous La Scala Opera House in Milan, Italy, they began construction on this elaborate gypsy wagon with the idea that Laurie would some day travel around the county performing marionette shows and … that is exactly what she does.
Their goal was to revive the Traditional European-Style Puppets Theater, an art form that has entertained, delighted and educated the young and the young at hart for centuries.
Their goal was to revive the Traditional European-Style Puppets Theater, an art form that has entertained, delighted and educated the young and young at hart for centuries.
Laurie Branham grew up surrounded by art. Growing up with her father, Robert Branham, a professional artist, she developed a keen sense of design and theatrics at a very young age. With her father’s guidance and inspiration, she learned to draw, paint, sculpt and design.
At the age of nine years old, her father built her a little working marionette theater for Christmas. The little theater also came with several Pelham Marionettes from England. That beginning introduction to puppets set the spark for Laurie to take off in a world of imagination.
Laurie Branham grew up surrounded by art. Growing up with her father, Robert Branham, a professional artist, she developed a keen sense of design and theatrics at a very young age. With her father’s guidance and inspiration, she learned to draw, paint, sculpt and design.
At the age of nine years old, her father built her a little working marionette theater for Christmas. The little theater also came with several Pelham Marionettes from England. That beginning introduction to puppets set the spark for Laurie to take off in a world of imagination.
A graduate of the Drama Studio of London, Laurie has found the perfect combination for her love of art and theater through the fascinating world of puppetry.
A graduate of the Drama Studio of London, Laurie has found the perfect combination for her love of theater through the fascinating would of puppetry.
Along with the construction of her marionette theater, she also designs and builds the marionettes, sets and back drops for the productions.
She is the master puppeteer, director, choreographer, original script writer, set designer and many of the voices. A puppeteer wears many hats indeed!
Along with the construction of her marionette theater, she also designs and builds the marionettes, sets and back drops for the productions.
She is the master puppeteer, director, choreographer, original script writer, set designer and many of the voices. A puppeteer wears many hats indeed!
