Little Angel Theatre's Steve Tiplady on a world of inspiration

One theatre critic once said there was nothing in British theatre that was more likely to fill critics and audiences with despair than the use of puppetry in a show. But crushing this perception is the Little Angel Theatre’s artistic associate, Steve Tiplady.

The former artistic director at the theatre is one of the creative heads responsible for the magical resurgence of puppetry on stage.Joining the theatre   than seven years ago, Steve has received critical acclaim for hit shows including Jabberwocky, a fresh interpretation on Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, a musical called The Mouse Queen and most recently Cinderella and Petrushka. Now an artistic associate at the theatre, Steve works on a number of shows - he is currently working on puppetry for a Globe Theatre production of Doctor Faustus.

But joining the world of puppetry wasn’t an obvious choice of career, Steve tells me. “I suppose I wasn’t born as a puppeteer, I came into it later in life but I loved taking a story and exploring how it could be told to an audience. Using something so simple like rubbish paper and turning it into something extraordinary is quite magical. It’s the sense of potential and possibilities.”

Inspired by the art world, in particular sculptural pieces, Steve admits his greatest inspiration for his shows are his two sons. His eldest son Jacob, now 20, was the inspiration behind his show Pinnochio.

The 49-year-old, who now lives in Cambridge with his partner and two sons is adamant that the world of theatre needs to change. “I had very few theatrical outings as a child. But I believe theatre is such an important thing as a child.  Most people think of musicals and plays when they think about what theatre is. But it’s something so much more than that. Keeping it simple and fantastical can spark the imagination.”

Currently working on an adult show for the Suspense Festival, Steve hopes to explore puppets, human bodies and the themes of love, loss and decay.

“War Horse (currently on at the New London Theatre) is a great example of a beautifully rendered show, using giant puppets. I think puppets can be magical for both children and adults.”

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