Richmond’s Barefoot Puppets Theater is coming to Court Square Theater tonight for a “magical” performance of Galapagos George, based on the true story of “Lonesome George,” the last known tortoise of his kind from Pinta Island in the Galápagos.
Any Given Child Shenandoah Valley, the sponsor of tonight’s event, works to achieve equitable access to the arts for all K-8 students. By collaborating with Barefoot Puppets Theater to bring Galapagos George to Harrisonburg and Rockingham county, Any Given Child Shenandoah Valley introduces students to the art of puppetry.
“We have worked with Barefoot Puppets on multiple occasions to bring programs to students in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County,” R.J. Snow, the Executive Director of Any Given Child Shenandoah Valley, said. “They make their puppets, create their own stories, and write their own music. They are absolutely experts in the field.”
Heidi Rugg is one of the lead technicians at Barefoot Puppets Theater. Rugg has championed puppetry in the Richmond area not only through her work with Barefoot Puppets Theater, but by founding Puppets Off Broad Street in 2014.
“This particular show mixes historical references and creation,” Snow said. “The puppets themselves are adorable, and kids have a lot of joy seeing them.
Snow said that Rugg has gone the extra mile to find the many different creatures that live on the Galapagos and has been able to weave them into the story.
“There are many different types of puppets, and Heidi will bring out and talk about rod puppets, shadow puppets, and hand puppets,” Snow said. “There is a lot of intricacy and care that goes into it.”
A rod puppet, for example, is a type of puppet controlled from below with sticks that move its body, head, and limbs.
“The students who watch the show are often kind of blown away that the voices and sounds that come along with the puppets are created by people,” Snow said. “Each puppet has a little bit of different use based on the type of puppet.”
Galapagos George showcases numerous colorful puppets with expressive eyes and smiling lips to depict George’s journey, where he encounters sea turtles, blue-footed birds, sea lions, and some unexpected challenges.
“Our whole initiative is about teaching students to find their own creative identity,” Snow said. “We know that if they don’t have the opportunity to see creative inspiration, then they might not be inspired to find their own.”
Galapagos George received the UNIMA Citation of Excellence in 2005 and was described by The Smithsonian as “an uplifting eco-fable.”
“Barefoot Puppet with Galapagos George is one example of a lot of diverse forms of art that we bring to the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area,” Snow said. “This is our first time offering a show in the evening, since all of our programs are usually done during the school day.
Barefoot Puppets offers an educational lesson about man’s impact upon the environment through the unique art of puppetry. Tickets are $10, and children under 5 can attend for free.
“Art has the most incredible power to have an impact on a moment,” Snow said. “With this particular art form, maybe people haven’t had the opportunity to take their children to a professional puppet show. I imagine that kids will go home, grab their own paper bags, and make their own puppets to create their own shows.”
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