UK Partner
Matt Smith, Reader in Applied Theatre and Puppetry, Faculty Art Design and Performance - Creative Culture Industries.
Ukraine Partner
Dr Tamara Rozova, Professor of Department of Cultural Studies and Philosophy of Culture.
Co-Investigators
- Tatiana Ovcharenko, Assistant Professor of Department of Cultural Studies and Philosophy of Culture.
- Nataliia Borodina, Assistant Professor of Department of Cultural Studies and Philosophy of Culture.
Project objectives
This project would promote and protect the puppetry of Odesa Puppet Theatre an important cultural institution since 1932. The research would highlight the way that culture can survive conflict, especially for young people and it would draw attention to this city during a time of crisis and threat. Puppetry is a very eye-catching and exciting artform that draws a lots of favourable media stories. It will link the culture of the UK and Ukraine through puppetry. It links the faculties of CCI and the cultural studies department at Odesa Polytechnic. This project would focus on puppetry as a socio-humanitarian process at times of war and as part of the subsequent restoration of the country. Puppetry would be analysed in relation to dealing with education and socialisation of children at the time of war. The approach would be Interdisciplinary research about the relation between puppetry and society during war conflicts in the context of Odesa.
Project goals
In Odesa there is one of the oldest puppet theatres in the Ukraine and this theatre has continued to make performances and provide entertainment during the traumatic war that is ongoing. As part of its theatrical heritage Odesa has a long tradition of puppetry like many eastern European countries. The Odesa puppet theatre was formed in 1932 at a time of starvation and trauma for the population and it was able to survive the tumultuous history of the twentieth century. The way that the puppet theatre has survived as a vital source of culture in Odesa will be explored in this project using practice based methods, interviews and historical accounts. The question considered in relation to this history and context is; How can puppet theatre survive times of conflict and trauma as a valid artform for children and their families?
Key aims would include;
- Research into Odesa puppet theatre as a heritage of children’s theatre would be part of this project.
- Explore the possibility of making new performance work in response to the current crisis telling stories of puppet theatres survival.
- Research how Odesa puppet theatre has survived during crisis and turmoil.
- Celebrate Odesa culture to a wider audience. Links and collaboration is now established between UoP and the cultural studies department at Odesa polytechnic. Additional to this we would develop a collaboration between; Odesa puppet theatre, Holodomor museum, UNION INTERNATIONALE DE LA MARIONNETTE (INTERNATIONAL PUPPETRY ORGANISATION).
- British UNIMA and The British Council (In regards to dissemination and development of more funding).
- Dr Kamil Kopania, Warsaw Theatre Academy, Poland - (He is working with Ukrainian students who have moved from the war zones and is expert on east european puppetry and has expressed an interest in collaborating).
- Outputs as a part of this research would include performances responding to the research theme, seminars in both Portsmouth and Odesa and a peer reviewed article in Research in Drama Education RIDE.
- Matt Smith has already published in relation to this subject (Smith 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022) and he has experience of interdisciplinary ways of working including using remote methods – for example, ACT project in Nairobi 2021
- This collaboration will be proposed to be developed as part of the CCI Academic Ideas Lab reaching large audiences with factual television & radio workshop at UoP to develop appropriate media to promote the research.
Role of each Partner
UoP:
- Develop the project and fund raise.
- Lead the project in relation to outputs in english.
- Develop outputs - network, seminar and article.
- Monitor, manage, document and evaluate.
Odessa Polytechnic:
- Develop the project locally in Odesa with puppet theatre and other local groups and individuals.
- Generate data and evidence for the project in relation to outputs in English Develop outputs - network, seminar.
- Document and evaluate.
Timing
Project Start Date: April 2023.
Project End Date: August 2023.
Expected results
1. Publish a co- authored article about Odesa puppet theatre - with agreed publication Research in Drama Education RIDE.
2. Submission of bid for further funding to develop the project with international partnership with British Council. Going Global Partnerships and AHRC research networking scheme.
3. A symposium performance event for public dissemination at UoP June 2023 linked with another event at Odesa Polytechnic in July 2023.
