Old Trout Puppet Workshop Society

The Old Trout Puppet Workshop Society is a Canadian nonprofit organization and puppet theatre company based in Calgary, Alberta. Founded in 1999 on a ranch in southern Alberta, the collective of artists is dedicated to re-imagining the art of puppetry by creating original, exuberant, and innovative puppet theatre for both children and adults. The Society operates professionally in the fields of puppet theatre, sculpture, and conventional theatre, also providing education and facilitating collaborative production in these art forms[3][4][5].

History

The Old Trout Puppet Workshop began during the winter of 1999 as a small group of friends, fond of traditional crafts and communal living, who started by carving puppets and producing their first show for a local audience of cowboys and Hutterites on the ranch where they lived. After a year of intense collaboration and communal lifestyle, they relocated to Calgary to expand their artistic ambitions and reach larger audiences. Since moving to the city, the workshop has grown substantially, employing numerous artists and staff and developing a diverse range of productions[3][4].

Mission and Mandate

The Society’s mission is to re-imagine puppetry as an art form, fostering innovation, technique, and imaginative originality. It aims to promote and present theatre and sculpture involving puppetry, provide education in these fields, and support eclectic artistic endeavors through its facilities and collaborative model. The organization emphasizes the creation of art that inspires and delights, striving for authenticity and the sublime in puppet performance[5][3].

Artistic Work and Style

The Old Trout Puppet Workshop is known for creating puppet shows that blur the line between adult and children’s theatre. Their productions often explore allegory, joyful tragedy, and purity of spirit, pushing the boundaries of puppetry as a medium. Notable works include Ignorance, The Erotic Anguish of Don Juan, Famous Puppet Death Scenes, Beowulf, The Tooth Fairy, Pinocchio, The Ice King, and Jabberwocky. Their work extends beyond theatre into film and video; they contributed to the film Comedia Moderna and to the Feist music video "Honey, Honey"[4].

Organization and Operations

Now operating from a workshop in industrial Calgary, adjacent to a large distillery, the Society runs multiple projects year-round. It employs artists and technical staff, maintains an intermittent apprenticeship program, and manages both technical and administrative functions to support its production and touring activities. The company tours internationally, participating in festivals that celebrate extraordinary puppetry[3][1][2].

Recognition

The Old Trout Puppet Workshop Society is registered as a charitable organization under Canadian law, recognized for its contributions to the cultural landscape and artistic innovation within puppetry in Canada and internationally. It has earned a reputation as a world-renowned company of artists dedicated to the advancement and re-imagination of puppetry[5].

Founding members: Judd Palmer, Peter Balkwill, and Steve Kenderes[4].