10th - 15th May, 2011
Performed by Jeff Achtem Produced by Chae Lian & Richard Harding Gardner Staging at PJ Live Arts
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Come play in the dark!
STICKS, STONES, BROKEN BONES is a wordless, shadow puppet comedy from Montreal, Canada. Monkeys in the jungle, UFO abductions, brain transplants and flying Ninjas. don't miss Jeff Achtem's amazingly playful vision of wonder and nonsense as he transforms bits of junk into surreal shadow puppets.
In each scene, the audience is invited behind the visual trickery to witness the making of these amazing puppet melodramas.
Suitable for all ages.
AWARDS 2011 Best Puppetry Adelaide Fringe Festival
2010 Spirit of the Fringe & Best Newcomer Edinburgh Fringe Festival
JEFF ACHTEM
Performing internationally since 1999, Jeff's silent clown character, Mr Bunk, is influenced by traditional European street clowning and audience improvisation. His unique performances are in demand world-wide, and he appears regularly at arts festivals, variety theaters and cabarets around the globe. Recent performances have taken him to Malaysia, South Africa, Singapore, Poland, UK, New Zealand, Spain, Australia, Belgium and Macedonia.
18/08/2010 The Skinny by Malcolm McGonigle STICKS, STONES AND BROKEN BONES
From the opening moment when he meanders onstage mumbling and fumbling like an amiable Mr Bean, Achtem captures the audience's hearts and the occasional shoe (which he returns to the confused spectator after using it as a prop in a hilarious opening scene)... + more
15/08/2010 Fest by Susan Robinson STICKS, STONES, BROKEN BONES
This only adds charm, as it allows him to retain a measure of mystery, and the audience to marvel at his bizarre talent for creating silhouettes out of bric-a-brac and bringing them to life. Achtem has the audience intrigued from the very beginning as he unlaces the boot of a punter and makes a puppet right there on the stage. + more
12/08/2010 The List by Steve Cramer STICKS, STONE, BROKEN BONES - YOUR PLASTIC FRIENDS
There's something delightfully primal about a shadow-and-light show; it makes us all into children again. This light comic novelty... with the delicate touch required for a family show, and a sense of cartoon hanging over both the children's toys and bits of cheap plastic that assume monstrous life projected on a white screen. + more
11/08/2010 The Scotsman by Claire Smith STICKS, STONE, BROKEN BONES
Jeff Achtem from Montreal... communicating with his audience using squeaks and tiny shy noises. On a washing line behind him is pinned a strange collection of mangled junk which doesn't appear to be anything at all. But with the aid of a light projector and a giant screen Achtem transforms this collection of misshapen objects into shadow puppets. + more
2010 Edinburgh Spotlight STICKS, STONES, BROKEN BONES
... a series of short tableaux featuring comic characters with
which audiences can immediately identify. As well as being genuinely
funny and endearing, this show is technically fascinating ... Achtem makes the “nuts and bolts” of his puppetry part of the performance... + more
23/07/2010 Emirates 247 PUPPETS AT THE PALACE
An award-winning show demonstrates how junk makes good theatre. + more
JEFF ACHTEM
18/08/2010 The Skinny by Malcolm McGonigle
15/08/2010 Fest by Susan Robinson
12/08/2010 The List by Steve Cramer
11/08/2010 The Scotsman by Claire Smith
2010 Edinburgh Spotlight
23/07/2010 Emirates 247