history

A Brief History

In January 1998 the performers and organisers held their collective breath as the first "One Van" Puppet Festival opened its box office. "Would we
have an audience", was the question on everybody's lips. The answer was, and has been ever since, an emphatic, yes! In fact so many people
turned up for the first Festival that the organisers had a team of volunteers in the office printing extra tickets.

"One Van" is the brainchild of Sue Wallace who, with her partner Steve Coupe, are the Sydney Puppet Theatre. Best known for their work at The
Rocks Puppet Cottage, Sue and Steve have attended and participated in a number of puppet festivals in countries around the world including
France, Holland, Hungary, Mexico, USA, UK and Japan. It was from these events that the idea of a Festival of Puppetry held in Australia came to
Sue. She chose the village of Blackheath because of its proximity to Sydney, its unique village character, its accessibility by both road and rail, and
its natural beauty, being set within the World Heritage Listed, Blue Mountains National Park.

From the first Festival in 1998, "One Van" has grown, with Sue Wallace at the helm, to become the "One Van" International Festival of Puppetry with
the kudos and reputation as an important arts event, around Australia and in many parts of the world. "One Van" is also the only Puppet Festival in
Australia that has remained to become an arts fixture.

In 1999 the first ever, adult puppet cabaret was introduced to the Festival program. The organisers were not quite sure just how this even would pan
out and were certainly not prepared for the enormous success that it was and for the fantastic reaction received from a totally adult audience who
were entranced by the puppetry works presented. The cabaret is now a firm fixture on every Festival program and plays to sell out audiences.

From the very beginning the workshop program has been an enormous success , providing opportunities for adults, children and professional
puppeteers to develop skills in puppetry manipulation, performance, construction and professional development.

"One Van" International Festival of Puppetry has provided many children with their first experience of live theatre, and just as many adults with their
first experience of puppetry as an adult art form.