wppuppet@telus.net

THE DREAM
As a young girl, Wendy Passmore loved puppets and had a dream of becoming a puppeteer. She performed shows for the neighbourhood children. Wendy went on to obtain a Fine Arts degree from the University of Calgary and then studied puppetry at the Institute de la Marionettes in France. In 1987 she founded W. P. Puppet Theatre and in 1991 WPTS obtained society status.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT
In any business, relationships with other businesses, community and social agencies are essential and over the years W. P. Puppet Theatre has worked with and nurtured relationships with many such groups. There have been many commissioned and collaborative projects with organizations, the film industry and live theatre in Calgary. In addition, membership with a number of professional affiliations is advisable.

BELIEF
Believing strongly in the power of puppetry, the company is dedicated to showcasing the work of puppeteers from around the world with leaders such as Ronnie Burkett, Luman Coad and David Powell. Two puppet exhibits were brought to Calgary in April 2003 and past shows included Puppetmongers Powell and Dragon River Shadow Theatre, and a workshop by Chinese Theatre Works. This fall will see Louis Philippe Paulhus of Le Theatre de Deux Mains offer at least two public performances as well as workshops.

Puppet theatre arts span and encompass all the other creative, expressive arts (music, movement, art, drama, etc.) and this provides WPTS with an opportunity to broaden its horizons.

It has made it perhaps easier to look outside the box for ways to create new programs and performances. One such idea was to educate professionals on how to incorporate puppetry into their respective fields of practice, thus in 2001 a new program was started called PUPPET POWER that takes the form of a weekend seminar. For two years the theme was "Puppets as a Therapeutic Medium" and in 2003 the theme was "Embracing Multiculturalism". In 2004 the theme will be “Literacy and Learning”.

A gruelling work schedule, time away from loved ones, and many miles on the vehicle are usually the norm. W. P. Puppet Theatre has offered performances and/or workshops from BC to Ontario and Canada's North, as well as the United States, and overseas in Bulgaria, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia, to more than 30,000 people.
The organization has now grown to two full-time puppeteers and three part-time staff members, more than 70 volunteers, and a dedicated Board of Directors. W. P. Puppet Theatre remains as the major children’s puppet theatre in Calgary, and perhaps Alberta