By Ashley Thompson
THE HANTS JOURNAL
NovaNewsNow.com
Imagine standing inside a puppet workshop, surrounded by familiar characters from renowned childhood story books. But, unlike the illustrations in your favourite bedtime stories, these characters are pretty big – some even larger than you.
“Our workshops look like what puppet workshops would look like in your imagination,” Amy Smith, a summer student at the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, describes.
Sneaking a peak into the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s headquarters at 132 Gerrish St. in Windsor is nothing compared to walking through the doors and becoming immersed in the enchanting world of children’s theatre.
Smith admits she still gets caught up in the building’s enchanting décor.
“It’s still pretty cool to come in everyday and see. There are crazy puppets all around… it’s huge and really magical.”
As part of Culture Days in Windsor, Sept. 24 – 26, Smith is busy organizing free events that will allow curious locals to go behind the scenes and experience Mermaid theatre’s “magic” firsthand.
“Culture Days is a national movement to help promote the arts in our community,” Smith said.
Mermaid has a full day planned Sept. 25, starting with the launch of the Mermaid Gallery in the renovated Mermaid Imperial Arts Centre at 110 Gerrish St. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. -
Mermaid has a full day planned Sept. 25, starting with the launch of the Mermaid Gallery in the renovated Mermaid Imperial Arts Centre at 110 Gerrish St. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The gallery will showcase art by children and for children, including unique silk paintings by Nova Scotian artist Holly Carr, and the puppets her creative images inspired.
“It’s a place where we can promote art for children but also promote children in the arts,” Smith said.
Mermaid Theatre’s international tour and logistics coordinator, Peter Smith, says that while their production teams travel far and wide, they’re always excited to perform in the town where it all began in 1972.
“We’re a major cultural force within the community. Mermaid’s been here (in Windsor) for quite awhile so something is working,” he laughed.
He attributes much of the company’s growth to their spacious facilities, where they can build and showcase puppets, prepare creative adaptations of popular children’s stories, rehearse and perform.
“We use a lot of space here and it’s good because we need a lot of space.”
