The Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre has entertained children for the past 40 years. What goes into running one of only eight puppet theatres in the UK? And what goes on behind the curtain of this creative wonderland?
By Tracy Mukherjee
The Scottish mask and Puppet Centre have activities for children right here in Glasgow completely covered!
When I was little, independent toy shops were relatively common. Little stores packed to the rafters with prams, Tiny-Tears, Sindys (Barbie hadn’t arrived yet). But there was one shop on Sauchiehall Street that was different from all the rest. It was called The Walrus and The Carpenter, and it was different because it was a magic shop. On entering the shop, you entered a make-believe world of witches and fairies and magicians – all hanging from the ceiling. The Walrus and Carpenter had puppets.
Cut to 45 years later and I am 7 again, mesmerised by every conceivable type of puppet at the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. I am here talking to the man behind the last 40 years of the centre, Dr Malcolm Knight. And he really IS magic.
Sustaining the Centre
Malcolm Knight is a puppeteer. In my opinion that doesn’t quite cover the enormous talents of this incredible gentleman. To Malcolm, that description would be more than enough. For during my visit to the centre, I learn just how much craft, skill and training it takes to be a puppeteer and just how much we as a society should be doing to ensure this artform continues to be valued and the training of which, properly funded.
The centre itself at Balcarres Avenue has a 99-year lease, let to Malcolm back in 1989. The building had been vandalised, needed £100,000 of repair as it sat derelict.
His concept was to make it a public service building. And their commitment to popular theatre remains, with accessible pricing and an astonishing programme of events throughout the year. The shows at the theatre are consistently sold out thanks to the huge amount of work by Sarah Lee, the centre’s manager. The reaction is incredible.
Funding the centre however is a constant struggle. Malcolm discusses with me how advanced theatre forms – acrobatics, circus, puppetry – often keep prices down but have inadequate support by arts funding. Malcolm says ‘It’s not seen as valuable. The underfunding of the arts has led to lack of positions, for graduates, undergraduates of the Conservatoire, the School of Art. So, it’s a constant battle to fund. Prioritising the arts? No.’ Malcolm also set up a training course in the early 2000s at Anniesland College for Puppeteering. But, again, lack of funding – it no longer exists.
The Centre’s Usage
Interestingly, the centre doesn’t just work with puppet companies. The Scottish Conjurer’s Association has had its home here for the past 10 years. There is a visiting lectures programme where they learn tricks and skills. Does Malcolm learn any of their secrets? No. ‘Their library is locked in a metal cupboard’ he tells me.
As well as the actual theatre, there is a beautiful coffee shop with the original ‘Café’ sign reclaimed from the Odeon Cinema on Renfield St. Malcolm and Sarah are big fans of recycling with so many special finds dotted around the centre. There’s a museum of every conceivable type of puppet: marionettes, glove puppets, rod puppets, Wyan shadow puppets. As we walk around Malcolm tells me he has performed to the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK and 300 Indonesian students using these puppets. ‘Balinese and Indonesians are brought up with the arts, everyone is encouraged to be an artist. It’s an emotional and spiritual part of a life.’There is the most beautiful shop, with inventive, creative gifts. Often the centre has mask making activities in the café, the materials for which are also available to buy and take home.
The theatre, café, museum, gift shop. One place, with so many activities for children right here in Glasgow. Even car boot sales! But what about behind the scenes?
Behind the Velvet Curtain
It’s not very often as an adult that you get the wonder we experience as children. As Malcolm holds the stage curtain back for me, I enter a world of enchantment. A few steps lead me to the workshop, where enormous puppets hang from the roofs, where Mister Punch comes to life under Malcolm’s skilled hands. A beautifully hand-crafted leather mask transforms my guide to a grotesque venetian villain. It’s the stuff of fairytales.
Leading to another part of the centre, there’s the wood workshop where puppets come to life. There’s a prosthetics studio where baby Dawn from Trainspotting was imagined. And there’s a classroom for children’s groups to create, for adults to learn, for magic to be made.
Investing in our Children’s Imagination
Malcolm has dedicated his life to the SMPC and as I learn from this remarkable man, it’s humbling to find out why. He has a creed which begins ‘My life’s purpose is to save the land of childhood through the sets, puppets, costumes and illustrations I design.’ In discussing why he feels his artform is so central to a child’s development he explains. ‘Investment is central to the imaginative, educational, social skill-based development of our children. If education means anything, it means empowerment. [You must] have experiences as a child that fire you up, that keep you interested, which feed your imagination, allow you to imagine things differently even if you don’t have the power to change them. That must take place as part of the educational development of children.’
As I leave the SMPC, I am utterly heartened that such a place, that such people exist in our society. And it’s up to us to ensure that this centre remains rightly supported for all of its 99 years.
The Mask and Puppet Centre is taking part in Doors Open Days on 20th – 21st Sept.
For more information on the programme, activities for children in Glasgow, events and Car Boot Sale dates visit –
