World renowned puppet-theatre master, Tony-nominated Julian Crouch comes to the Race Brook Lodge with his groundbreaking theatre piece, Birdheart (co-created with Saskia Lane), which answers the question: “how does a piece of trash learn to fly?”

A widely celebrated show that’s toured the world multiple times and has even been performed privately for His Holiness The Dali Lama, Birdheart comes home to roost in Sheffield, Massachusetts in a multi-day run in the Barn on the first weekend of October.

Built for infants, great grandparents and everyone in between, Birdheart defies expectations.

Through a series of animated images built in front of the audiences’ eyes, Birdheart creates something achingly beautiful from the humblest of beginnings: a sheet of brown paper, found objects, shadows and a box of sand. What results is an intimate and stunning chamber piece of animated theatre about metamorphosis, loneliness, and the urge to fly.

Inspired by an image of litter washed up on the shore and poisoning Albatross nests, Julian Crouch and his co-creator Saskia Lane have created a puppet show that largely eschews traditional narrative and favors instead the magical art of visual transformation. Birdheart holds a mirror up to humanity, reminding us of the profound simplicity of form, story, and emotion that is possible when artists return to the elemental within themselves. The piece is a quietly powerful, utterly compelling articulation in miniature of the mystical idea that the whole of life can be conjured from sand, sticks, paper, and the will to imagine.

Originally commissioned by The New Victory, Watermill Center, St Anne’s Warehouse and the Henson Foundation, Birdheart is an example of puppetry practiced at the highest levels of human artistry and expression and it will transform all who are lucky enough to witness it.

Playing:

Friday, October 6th, 6:00-7:30pm
Saturday October 7th, 6:00-7:30pm
Sunday October 8th, 3-4:30pm

In the Barnspace at Race Brook Lodge
864 South Undermountain road ( AKA Rt 41 ) Sheffield, MA
Ticket Price: $25 (adults), $10 (children)
Free for children under 4.

Birdheart Puppet Theatre

Birdheart Puppet Theatre