Millie The Black Kite by Flying Balloons Puppet (ID) & Big Mama Production (AU)

Millie the Black Kite 
Target Audience: all  ages
Duration: 60 minutes

Synopsis
Millie, a rescue Kite (a type of raptor bird) who was found and raised by wildlife carers in Broome, Western Australia.  When she was an adult, she was released into the wild, but she missed human company. She would hang around fast food places begging for food and cuddles. One day a huge storm was bearing down on Broome, and she took refuge on a cruise liner. She made friends with the passengers and found that she was on her way to Bali. Despite a partition signed by thousands of people to try and have her returned to Australia, the Australian biosecurity laws forbade it!  She now lives in a wildlife sanctuary in Bali.

This is interactive multi-sensory puppet theatre that is emotionally impactful and blurs the line between reality and imagination. As Millie's story unfolds across continents, it inspires contemplation on the delicate balance of human compassion and parallel human stories such as migration, refugees and the complex role of borders, how we make laws that suit ourselves but it may make others to suffer, identity, belonging and ways to offer poignant reflection on the impact of human intervention in the lives of animals, the importance of understanding the needs of wildlife in a changing world.

This project was made possible by the Australian Governments Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.

Production Credit
Rangga Dwi Apriadinnur (co. Director/Puppeteer/Puppet Maker)
Gwendolyn Knox (co. Director/Puppet Maker/Project Manager) 
Jefri Mugiono (Co. Director/Puppet & Set builder/Puppeteer)
Meyda Bestari (Production manager)
Julianna Marie Thomas (Dancer)
Eduardo Maher (Puppeteer)
Chloe Flockart (Artistic/Scenographer)
Khoirul Anwar (Promotions & Performer)
Asha Pearl Vincent (Dancer/Puppeteer)
April Maria Mallard (Performer/Puppeteer) 

Artist’s Profile
Big MAMA Productions works with people to tell their stories through developing visual theatre performance.  Performance outcomes are negotiated with the community or individual throughout the process to develop works that is the best fit for that community.

Flying Balloon Puppets are a dynamic performance group that seamlessly blends the art of puppetry with the exploration of performance art. They are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of puppetry, using objects and puppets to convey deep emotions and thought-provoking narratives.  Both companies have worked together before to develop a work called ‘Sori in the Land of Lembuna’ for Pesta Boneka #6.  Both companies worked together in December 2024, in Broome Western Australia, on a Creative development of this work ‘Millie the Black Kite

gwenknox.com
flyingballoons.id