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Presented by Perth Theatre Company and The seas have risen, billions have died and those who are left live on farms atop skyscrapers, atop mountains. The scientists have tried everything. Floating islands sank, space probes found nothing, and the giant sponges, visible from the moon, are now rotting icons of failure. Now science and humanity are turning to the oceans themselves. A last ditch effort to save the human race requires journeying down through the mysterious depths of the deep blue sea to find a new place for us to live. Alvin Sputnik, who has just lost his wife, accepts this perilous mission so that he may follow her soul down to the underworld so that they can be together again once more. Created and performed by Tim Watts, who employs a unique blend of puppetry, live and recorded music, and animation to present an exploration of the next and oldest frontier: the deep blue sea. Puppetry Style: The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer About the Show Alvin began in a puppetry workshop with 'Spare Parts Puppet Theatre' in Fremantle, Australia, in 2007. He was a humble little puppet, just a buoy and a white glove that I instantly had a fondness for. His big head, wide eye, and funny little body - he couldn't be anything but a curious deep sea diver. Friends who saw the little guy in the workshop encouraged me to make a show with him. So with that, and a desire to make a highly tourable, yet still visually interesting show, I created The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer for a slot at the Blue Room Theatre program in Perth, Australia, in May 2009. It was a thrilling and exhausting process. I collaborated with Arielle Gray, did lots of experiments and little shows for friends, trying to get as much feedback and ideas as possible as to what was fun and what worked. I got my dad, Anthony Watts, to build the set and all the gadgets and just managed to pull the whole thing off in time. We got rave reviews, performed to sell-out crowds and won awards for 'Best Production,' 'Best Production Team,' and 'Member’s Choice.’ Since then, with the assistance of Perth Theatre Company as producers, Alvin Sputnik has toured all over the world, experiencing more sold-out shows, winning more awards, and getting overwhelming responses from audiences and reviewers alike. The show won ‘Outstanding Solo Show’ at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2009, 'Best Puppetry' at the 2010 Adelaide Fringe Awards, 'Best Theatre' at the Auckland Fringe in 2011, ‘Best Male Performer’ at the Dublin Fringe, and was nominated for Australia’s top performance prize, the Helpmann Award, in 2012. So far, Alvin Sputnik has been performed in the USA, New Zealand, India, South Korea, the UK, Denmark, Ireland, Hong Kong, Malta, Taiwan, Japan, and all over Australia. It has been a long journey - and we still continue to develop and improve the show as we tour. I am determined to keep it a continual, creative process. If you have any thoughts or feedback, I would love to hear them. Just shoot me an email: tim@weepingspoon.com Thank you for coming, and I hope you enjoy the show.
Click here for a Q & A with Tim Watts. About Perth Theatre Company Perth Theatre Company creates new work that is fearless, playful, responsive, adventurous, entertaining and ultimately human. We connect Western Australians with artists at the forefront of Australian theatre practice, and engage a national and global audience through unique stories and collaborations. www.perththeatre.com.au
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