As Director of Norwich Puppet Theatre (NPT) 2012-2016 I produced and made 7 inventive new productions, which toured schools and venues throughout the UK. Working with the team at NPT we developed an outstanding programme of national and international puppet and visual theatre for all ages including Manipulate Festival in partnership with Puppet Animation Scotland and a new EY strand.

 

I initiated and delivered the first City&Guilds course in Puppet Making and Performance for Norfolk Adult Education, teaching it for 11 years, and was instrumental in developing NPT’s outstanding CPD and masterclasses programme with international artists.

 

1987-1989 started work with Puppets & People Theatre Collective, Newcastle.

1989-1991 worked as a freelance puppeteer & company member with
Norwich Puppet Theatre.

1991 - 1997 established and ran Banyan Theatre Company with Karen Torley having met at NPT under the inspirational artistic directorship of Luis Z Boy. Banyan Theatre Co created 5 successive productions includingThe Emperor’s New Clothes, winning public and critical acclaim:

 

‘Torley and Haynes weave an invisible fabric of magic around themselves and their characters and the result is a richly colourful, gently witty and eloquently performed piece of the theatre for the very young’ Time Out

 

Karen Torley currently operates Banyan Theatre Co from Derry, Northern Ireland.