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Maritime Marionettes was founded in 1986 with the goal of producing and touring quality marionette theater. They have produced and performed eight new shows (six of these were translated and performed in French), developing a magical style of performing together. Their company has traveled nationally and internationally, acquiring an international reputation for excellence in Marionette artistry.
The company creates its productions from concept to finished product. This includes making and fashioning the marionette figures that feature in the shows to the sets, props and costuming of the productions.
Read some of our Reviews, Evaluations & Recommendations.
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Heather Bishop Taylor is well known in Nova Scotia for her work as a solo performer in schools and in a variety of special events. Her interest in puppetry began at age 11 and she has continued to develop her beloved childhood hobby into a career. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in French at Acadia University, she went on to study theatre at Dalhousie and take the Foundation year at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. All of her studies in music, theatre, French and art have been adapted and directed toward her love of marionettes.
Darryll Taylor developed an interest in marionettes after working primarily with mouth and rod puppets. He has intuitive manipulation techniques and has developed his performing skills thoroughly and precisely. In recent productions Darryll has been continuing a family tradition of storytelling and music. He has written two original scripts, Molly and the Oak Island Treasure and Land of the Little People. In both productions Darryll has combined local folklore with fantasy in a musical marionette play.
Heather and Darryll began working together in the mid eighties, with the Kids Express Puppet Troupe out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Then, after a season of apprenticeship touring with David Syrotiak's National Marionette Theatre (Vermont), the Taylors began their company, Maritime Marionettes in Truro, Nova Scotia.
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Puppets Up! Festival, Almonte, Ont., August 2007
Tour of the Yukon Territory, May/June 2007
Maniganses, Festival des marionettes, Jonquière, Que., '98, '96, '94, 2006
Petrouchka, Concert with Québec Orchestre Symphonique, April 2005
Port Moody Art's Festival, April 2005
Puppeteers and Marionettes in 'The Conclave' to be
released Fall 2005, Canadian and German TV
Tour of Newfoundland and Labrador 2005, 2000, 1997, 1992, 1989
Tour of Alberta and B.C., Fall 2004
Midsummer Marionette Festival, Truro, NS, August 2002, 2003
Tour of Saskatchewan & British Columbia, 2003
Tour with New Brunswick Arts Council, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002...
Festival Mondiale des Marionnettes, Charleville-Mézières, France, 2000 and 1997
Hsin Kang International Children's Arts Festival, Taiwan, 2003 and 1998
Petrouchka premiere with Lubbock Texas Symphony Orchestra. May 1999
4 week tour of British Columbia Schools, Winter 2000
La Semaine Mondiale de la Marionette, Jonquière, Quebec. 1998, 1996, 1994
Ottawa - Hull International Children's Festival, 1996, 1993, 1991
A Summertime Children's Festival, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1995
Kidfest, Bermuda, 1995, 1994
Tour of the Yukon Territory, 1991
International Children's Festivals: Peterborough Ontario, 1998; London Ontario, 1994; Calgary, 1991; Halifax, 1987; Winnipeg, 1991; Northern Canadian, BC. 1991
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Here is a list of questions we are asked at schools and performances.
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How did you get started?
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Heather
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I became interested in marionettes when I was 12 years old after seeing a live marionette show of Pinocchio. I felt inspired and immediately found books on marionettes so I could make them and put on shows with my friends. This was my hobby for several years and when I met Darryll we began 'Maritime Marionettes'.
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Darryll
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I became interested in marionettes when I met Heather.
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When did you start Maritime Marionettes?
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We founded Maritime Marionettes in 1986. Before this we apprenticed with David Syrotiaks' National Marionette Theater in Hartford Connecticut, USA., where we learned to build and perform shows.
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How do you make the lights work?
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The lights are controlled by a lighting board positioned on the stage within easy reach of the puppeteers. During the performance the puppeteers can fade the lights up or down for each scene.
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How long does it take to make a marionette?
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It takes us three weeks to make one 2 foot high wooden marionette. Complete with costume and strings.
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When are you coming back?
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We tour each show many places which takes a lot of time.
Usually we return with a new show every two years, and some places we have only visited once.
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Are you married?
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Yes
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To each other?
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Yes
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Where do you get the puppets?
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We make all the puppets in our studio in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Where do the voices come from?
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The voices are done by professional actors. First the voices are digitally recorded in a sound studio. Then we add the sound effects and music to make the sound track. During the performance the soundtrack is played from a cassette tape, heard through speakers in front of the stage.
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Is it fun being a puppeteer?
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Heather and Darryll. Yes it is fun! We love so many things about being a puppeteer. We especially like making the marionettes come to life with realistic movements. We also like traveling to interesting places to perform shows. Another fun thing is making the marionettes.
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How long does it take to learn?
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Learning to work a marionette is a lot like learning to play a musical instrument or learning to play a new sport. The longer you practice the more skilled you become.
Rehearsing a new show can take up to two weeks.
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What are the marionettes made of?
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We make our marionettes bodies and limbs from basswood. Their heads are made of plastic or fiberglass and their hands are wooden or plastic. Marionettes can be made from many different materials including cloth or doweling.
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What are the rocks made of?
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The rocks are made of styrofoam which is then covered in cotton cloth soaked in white glue. When this dries it is very hard and light and we can paint it to look real.
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How do you make the fire?
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The fire is made with a light bulb, called a flicker bulb which can be bought at the hardware store.
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How does the cat control stay up in the air when the puppeteers aren't holding it?
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We hang the control on a long black rod that comes up from the table. This rod is very hard to see from a distance.
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What is the Whale made of?
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The whale is made of cloth. Inside there are three sections like pillows stuffed with quilt Batting. The outside is covered with a blue fabric called velour and painted. The whale is controlled by two rods and is not a marionette because there are no strings.
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How do you make them look so real?
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When we move the puppets we think about how a real person would move when they walk, sit down or kneel.. We also think about how old or young the character is, and if the character is happy or angry or sad. We practice with a video camera and with a mirror so we can see what the actions look like.
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Where do the voices come from?
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The voices are done by professional actors. First the voices are digitally recorded in a sound studio. Then, we add the sound effects and music to make the sound track. During the performance the soundtrack is played from our laptop computer through speakers in front of the stage.
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