description Handspring Puppet Company Overview
Handspring Puppet Company is a South African puppetry and contemporary-theatre company founded in 1981 by Adrian Kohler, Basil Jones, Jill Joubert, and Jon Weinberg. The company developed animal puppets as major dramatic performers rather than as supporting props. Its work on War Horse, commissioned by the National Theatre, included life-sized horses whose movement and behavior are created by multiple visible puppeteers.
help Handspring Puppet Company FAQ
When was Handspring Puppet Company founded?
Handspring Puppet Company was founded in South Africa in 1981 by Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones. The company later became internationally known for combining visible puppeteers with expressive large-scale figures.
How did Handspring become famous outside South Africa?
Its international breakthrough came through the life-sized horse puppets created for the National Theatre's War Horse. War Horse premiered in London in 2007 and became the company's defining global production.
How many puppeteers operate Joey in War Horse?
Three performers work inside or alongside the Joey puppet, coordinating the head, heart, and hindquarters. The design makes their physical effort visible while encouraging the audience to perceive Joey as a living horse.
What other Handspring work is connected with William Kentridge?
Handspring collaborated with William Kentridge on productions including Woyzeck on the Highveld and Ubu and the Truth Commission. Those works use puppets, actors, and visual theatre to address South African history and politics.
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