Wise Fools! WORKSHOP 1 for whimsical creativity with puppets, Commedia dell’Arte, and clowning
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CO-CREATE, GENERATE! LIBERATE!
Calling all puppetistas and tricksters! We are forming a FLYING SQUAD for future planned acts of whimsical creativity. Join us for the first workshop in the Creative Activism 2026 series. Join the fun and creativity as we get down to actual production of materials for future actions and dedicate time to body movement.
PRESENTERS
Sally Knowles (aka “Jeanne Luc Badasse”) is teaming up with Commedia dell’Arte guru “Cruelina” and her alter ego “Il Capitano” to run this year’s series, with invited guests.
Don’t miss the chance to be trained by Salmiyah Fiedorowicz.
Salmiyah’s career as a contemporary dancer-choreographer, performer and community artist, has spanned from 1975 to today, in France, Africa, Indonesia and Australia. In Australia she has taught Commedia, Circus Skills and movements to students at Murdoch University in the ‘Children’s Theatre’ unit (2005-2017). Recently, she choreographed and led the event: “Secrets of Carnevale” at the Buffalo Club in November 2025; and trained and led the Harlequina Flashmob “Stayin’ alive & keepin’ to 1.5” and walkabouts, for the Fringe performance: “Fossil Fool Crime Walk”. Finally, Salmiyah participated in the dance performance “Cercles” (PIAF), directed by Boris Charmatz (February 2026); and, “Ocean Odyssey”, installation for Sculptures by the Sea, Cottesloe, directed by Dr. Subodh Kerkar (March 2026).
Sally has, with Stephen Bennetts, recently co-created the FRINGE Fossil Fool Crime Walk for Fremantle Carnevale. She ran last year’s Creative Activism series with invited guests and specialises in artivism and creative stagecraft. She has co-ordinated street theatre for Fremantle Carnevale events including adaptations of Köln’s Weiberfastnacht castration ritual by the ‘Revolting Women of Fremantle’ (2011-2013). As a community-based ‘artivist’, Sally has gained a reputation for value-adding to activist events by introducing Carnival mask, costume and dance practices and theatrical character creation. She has recently learned large-scale puppet-making and collaborated to produce large-scale puppets for events in response to the global climate crisis.
She has also convened Extinction Rebellion WA’s ‘Red Rebels’ since 2020, a performance and she runs costume, mask and puppet making workshops. Alongside her stock character “Scarlequina” (a mischievous harlequin figure), she has created numerous other characters for carnival-inspired protest actions.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
For this first hands-on workshop, we will brainstorm new projects and support their creative development - from the concept creation, technical production, finishing, delivery and performance as opportunities to expose the illegitimate, undemocratic nature of existing institutions who are seeking to restrict our right to protest and requiring us to take direct action.
To stimulate ideas and creative development, we will cover:
Satire for activist street theatre
Puppets for mockery of political figures and guerilla-style actions
Commedia and clowning for tactical frivolity
Costuming for performance art & stunning street theatre spectacles
Comedy as a disruptor for social change and direct action
Using humour when things are dire
Commedia movement
WHAT TO BRING
Bring your team members, materials for making puppets, effigies, signs/banners, street theatre scripts, costumes, props, wear comfortable clothing/shoes for movement etc.
WORKSHOP OUTCOMES
You will leave with:
- a creative team and plenty of inspiration with which to connect with a community of like-minded changemakers who will encourage and empower you;
- a priority plan for our artivist actions for 2026;
- a swag of political strategies with which to strategise the key issues for 2026;
- practical tips and ideas for future creative actions;
- a toolkit of creative strategies get our message out to the public;
- a network of other passionate artivists.
OTHER INFO
Bring water, snacks, a friend and of course, your great ideas!
For more information, contact Sally Knowles [email protected]
Calling all puppetistas and tricksters! We are forming a FLYING SQUAD for future planned acts of whimsical creativity. Join us for the first workshop in the Creative Activism 2026 series. Join the fun and creativity as we get down to actual production of materials for future actions and dedicate time to body movement.
PRESENTERS
Sally Knowles (aka “Jeanne Luc Badasse”) is teaming up with Commedia dell’Arte guru “Cruelina” and her alter ego “Il Capitano” to run this year’s series, with invited guests.
Don’t miss the chance to be trained by Salmiyah Fiedorowicz.
Salmiyah’s career as a contemporary dancer-choreographer, performer and community artist, has spanned from 1975 to today, in France, Africa, Indonesia and Australia. In Australia she has taught Commedia, Circus Skills and movements to students at Murdoch University in the ‘Children’s Theatre’ unit (2005-2017). Recently, she choreographed and led the event: “Secrets of Carnevale” at the Buffalo Club in November 2025; and trained and led the Harlequina Flashmob “Stayin’ alive & keepin’ to 1.5” and walkabouts, for the Fringe performance: “Fossil Fool Crime Walk”. Finally, Salmiyah participated in the dance performance “Cercles” (PIAF), directed by Boris Charmatz (February 2026); and, “Ocean Odyssey”, installation for Sculptures by the Sea, Cottesloe, directed by Dr. Subodh Kerkar (March 2026).
Sally has, with Stephen Bennetts, recently co-created the FRINGE Fossil Fool Crime Walk for Fremantle Carnevale. She ran last year’s Creative Activism series with invited guests and specialises in artivism and creative stagecraft. She has co-ordinated street theatre for Fremantle Carnevale events including adaptations of Köln’s Weiberfastnacht castration ritual by the ‘Revolting Women of Fremantle’ (2011-2013). As a community-based ‘artivist’, Sally has gained a reputation for value-adding to activist events by introducing Carnival mask, costume and dance practices and theatrical character creation. She has recently learned large-scale puppet-making and collaborated to produce large-scale puppets for events in response to the global climate crisis.
She has also convened Extinction Rebellion WA’s ‘Red Rebels’ since 2020, a performance and she runs costume, mask and puppet making workshops. Alongside her stock character “Scarlequina” (a mischievous harlequin figure), she has created numerous other characters for carnival-inspired protest actions.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
For this first hands-on workshop, we will brainstorm new projects and support their creative development - from the concept creation, technical production, finishing, delivery and performance as opportunities to expose the illegitimate, undemocratic nature of existing institutions who are seeking to restrict our right to protest and requiring us to take direct action.
To stimulate ideas and creative development, we will cover:
Satire for activist street theatre
Puppets for mockery of political figures and guerilla-style actions
Commedia and clowning for tactical frivolity
Costuming for performance art & stunning street theatre spectacles
Comedy as a disruptor for social change and direct action
Using humour when things are dire
Commedia movement
WHAT TO BRING
Bring your team members, materials for making puppets, effigies, signs/banners, street theatre scripts, costumes, props, wear comfortable clothing/shoes for movement etc.
WORKSHOP OUTCOMES
You will leave with:
- a creative team and plenty of inspiration with which to connect with a community of like-minded changemakers who will encourage and empower you;
- a priority plan for our artivist actions for 2026;
- a swag of political strategies with which to strategise the key issues for 2026;
- practical tips and ideas for future creative actions;
- a toolkit of creative strategies get our message out to the public;
- a network of other passionate artivists.
OTHER INFO
Bring water, snacks, a friend and of course, your great ideas!
For more information, contact Sally Knowles [email protected]
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Where is it happening?
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth, WA, Australia, Western Australia 6000
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherBoorloo Activist Centre
