Report de la rencontre

UNIMA Burundi Meets Other UNIMA Centres in Africa and the World: Discussion with Cariad Astles - British UNIMA

On 27th March, UNIMA Burundi had the honor and privilege to host Cariad Astles in an online Zoom discussion meeting titled “UNIMA Burundi Meets Other UNIMA Centres in Africa and the World.”

During this exchange, several important questions were raised and discussed together:

What can puppetry do to impact today’s world in a peaceful way?

How can puppetry bring people together?

How can young puppeteers develop their skills and grow artistically?

What is the situation of puppetry in the UK and around the world?

Cariad Astles shared her long experience in puppetry, training, and international collaboration. She explained that in many countries, access to professional training in puppetry is still limited, and this makes it difficult for young artists to develop their skills.

She emphasized the role of the Global Professional Training and Research Commission of UNIMA, which is working to create more training opportunities, especially in Africa. These include workshops that will take place both in person and sometimes online, making it easier for people to participate. She encouraged young puppeteers to stay informed and to join UNIMA centres in order to explore these opportunities.

She also explained that young puppeteers can grow artistically by being active: meeting other artists, sharing ideas, and practicing regularly. She insisted on the importance of creating “meeting spaces,” where young people can come together, try new things, collaborate, and learn from each other. These spaces do not need to be big or expensive—they can exist anywhere, even in small communities.

Another important point was that puppetry does not require expensive materials. Puppets can be created from simple, local materials that are easy to find. What matters most is creativity and the desire to tell stories. She also encouraged young people to look for mentors—more experienced artists who are willing to guide and support them in a collaborative and open way.

Cariad Astles also spoke about the importance of sharing work, even if it is not perfect. She encouraged young puppeteers to create, present their work, receive feedback, and continue improving. She highlighted that collaboration is essential in puppetry and that working with others helps artists grow faster and stronger.

The discussion also touched on the role of puppetry in society. Puppetry is often seen as an art form for children, but she explained that it is also very powerful for adults. She gave the example of the World Puppet Festival in Charleville-Mézières, where over time, audiences have learned to appreciate puppetry, and today many adults attend and support performances.

She also shared her experience using puppetry in hospitals and care homes, where it helps people express emotions, tell stories, and connect with others. Puppetry creates a safe distance that allows people to speak about difficult experiences in a gentle and creative way.

Finally, she encouraged everyone to share knowledge, training tools, and resources within their communities. She also called for continued advocacy so that puppetry can be better recognized and supported at national and international levels.

This discussion showed how puppetry can be a powerful tool for creativity, education, and social connection, and how important it is to support young puppeteers and create more opportunities for them to grow.

Eraste Mandera

For more information, find a video recodings on YouTube chanel UNIMA Burundi.