A puppeteer for the Jim Henson Company who has a knack from turning anything into a puppet is bringing a variety show to Maple Ridge like no other.
'Epidermis Circus' is described as a "beautifully twisted variety show" performed by puppeteer Ingrid Hansen, a puppeteer for the Jim Henson Company's 'Fraggle Rock'.
The show features tiny, whimsical stories, celebrating the hilarious impossibility of being alive and having a body through a "spicy" puppet cabaret, hosted by a sassy grandma who keeps trying to steal the show.
Hansen is behind the company SNAFU, which she co-founded in 2006 with Victor Dolhai and Sarah Jane Pelzer in order to create unexpected theatre, dance, and puppet theatre.
According to her website she loves to create temporary communities out of groups of strangers, and she also enjoys pushing the polite Canadian boundaries with her favourite performances being ones where the audience participates in unexpected ways.
In addition to being the co-creator of 'Epidermis Circus', she is also the co-creator of many award winning shows, including a food-puppetry show called 'Table Top Tales', which was invited to the national Art Centre in Ottawa.
She earned her BFA in Theatre at the University of Victoria, and studied clown with Sue Morrison and Michael Kennard. She trained in Viewpoints and Suzuki with the SITI Company in New York, and took the Old Trout Banff National Arts Centre Puppetry Intensive.
Hansen is also a teacher herself, teaching at schools right across the country.
'Epidermis Circus' will be at The ACT Arts Centre, 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday Jan. 26.
There is an age restriction of 14 years and above because of cartoonish sexual content, swear words, puppet suicide, dark lighting, loud music, and surprises.
The show runs around 70 minutes plus a 20 minute intermission.
Tickets range from $22.50 to $37.50 plus fees and can be purchase at: https://theactmapleridge.org/epidermis-circus or by calling 604-476-2787.
