Engineers Of The Imagination: Welfare State Handbook (procession/parade ideas) [B2105]

1983 PB in nice clean condition. Since its foundation by John Fox in 1968, Welfare State International* has developed a unique form of celebratory theatre that reaches popular audiences through remarkable combinations of archetypal and contemporary imagery. This handbook is a guide to the basic techniques of the company's work - the making of processions; large scale puppets and sculptures; fixed structures; fire and ice technology; shadow puppets; processional theatre and dance music - set in a context that explains the thinking behind the work, and describes some past Welfare State International events. This is first and foremost a practical book rather than an academic treatise. "Welfare State International are brilliant at making an audience of strangers into a community"- The Guardian.

*Welfare State International was a British experimental theatre group formed in 1968 by John Fox and Sue Gill and others. It became "A collective of radical artists and thinkers who explored ideas of celebratory art and spectacle between 1968 and 2006.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This book is an excellent introduction to the work of Welfare State International, written by the individuals involved and their associates. As thoughtful and helpful as you'd expect, and surprisingly practical - e.g. the middle section is about construction of big stuff - puppets, fire objects, processionals - and is really useful, even though some of these practices date back to the 60s. It provides a way to reflect for people involved in outdoor arts, festivals and events and should be useful for new makers and doers. As we seem to be experiencing a renaissance in outdoor arts, it is always worth going back to one of the sources of UK activities."; "A must have for street theatre and spectacle creators. This book is a great workbook, with 'how to make' instructions for lanterns, giant puppets and events. It has lovely philosophy and a living history too of street performance."; "Useful ideas to spark the imagination, great for anyone new to running community events parades etc. Good range of examples and experiences from the authors and .... Introduces you to safety and things to think about."