Spare Parts Puppet Theatre bring the fun and heart of the Albany Agricultural Show to the stage with Show Day

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre has transformed all the fun of the Albany Agricultural Show into the puppetry of their latest production, made in Albany in collaboration with local artists, performers and Show veterans. Appropriately titled Show Day, the Perth-based theatre company’s performance features all the familiar fun of the Show — from sheep dog trials and wool spinning demonstrations, to wood chopping and cake judging — Show Day even ends in a unique fireworks display. The production has been in the works for more than two years — but the idea has lived even longer in the mind of its director, performer and co-creator Michael Barlow. Barlow said he started “daydreaming” about doing a Spare Parts production based on an agricultural show about five years ago, inspired by fond memories of going to country shows as a child. “I grew up in regional New South Wales and always loved going to the Show, but it wasn’t until I started going again, as an adult, that I realised it was the Ag Society stuff that was really the most meaningful,” Barlow said. “Everybody loves going for the junk food, rides, show bags and all of that sort of glitz and fun, and we have some of that (in Show Day). “But we really wanted to try and reflect the experiences of people that take part in a show, and kind of pay respect to that, to the efforts and what they give the community.” With funding for the production committed by the State Government’s Made in WA initiative, and the show co-commissioned by the Albany Entertainment Centre, the ball began rolling on Show Day in 2021 with Barlow making research trips to Albany. He would meet with his local co-creators Ellis Pearson and Cecile Williams, members of the Albany Agricultural Society committee and local show exhibitors, collecting their stories and memories of the Show, which has history going back to 1889. Williams served as the production’s chief puppet maker, but also acted as their unofficial fixer too, using her local connections to put them in touch with groups including the Albany Weavers, horse and sheepdog trial judges, and getting the inside word on cake judging. A meeting with former Albany Agricultural Society president and groundsman Gary Wilson was an important part of the development process, which helped Barlow find the “heart” of their story. “We were kind of looking for what the heart of the story was, and what we found after we started meeting with the committee and volunteers was that it was the effort that people made that benefitted the whole community to create this event where everyone could come and join together,” he said. “And I think that’s pretty special, as a true all ages, all backgrounds, all walks of life-type of event. It’s pretty rare.” The next step was setting out the story for Show Day and developing the puppets to tell it, alongside additions from local crew members including lighting designer Erik Loew, and music composed by multi-talented musician David Rastrick, who Barlow described as “the hardest working man in Albany”. Denmark-based Williams headed a puppet making team that also featured locals Jane Davies and Umberto Margio, as well as Perth’s Sanjiva Margio and Jackson Harrison. Williams and her team spent about six months making the puppets, many of which are handmade from papier-mache, with carved wooden hands and feet. The result is a rag-tag cast of characters including chickens, sheep, a newborn calf and a group of spinners, whose costumes were made out of material Williams’ own aunty, a member of the Albany Weavers, had created. Although she had spent so long making puppets, there was one last item Williams was yet to complete as the final rehearsals were under way — a cow pat. After watching a rehearsal, Williams realised realised she needed to “whip up some poo” for an early scene, but after an unsuccessful trip to Spotlight she was still looking for the right material. Williams eventually settled on a square of felt handmade by her grandmother over 40 years ago from sheep’s wool from the family’s Stirling Range farm. “It was just the perfect colour for s...,” she said. “So yes, even the cow pat is very sentimental, and it’s part of the family.” The development of Williams’ final puppetry piece reflects the fun but poignant tone of Show Day, which Barlow hopes will also allow audiences to “feel the heart inside the comedy”. “We met an old bloke (in Albany) who...hadn’t done well at school, but then had thrived as a farmer,” Barlow said. “Now he’s retired and he goes to the Show, and he brings these replica farm machines he makes out of Meccano sets that he finds in second-hand shops. “There’s a place for him at the show. “And there’s a place for a woman who’s into spinning, there’s a place for a girl that’s into show jumping, or a boy that’s at an Ag College raising calves, and for a carnival sideshow worker. “It’s such a mixed group of people, and there’s somewhere for everyone there. “I don’t think there’s any other event that’s like an Ag Show, really — of course it’s fun, but I do think there’s this kind of beautiful heart inside all of that.” Show Day is recommended for ages five and above and premieres at the Albany Entertainment Centre next week, with two shows every day from January 23-26 at 10am and 1pm. Show Day will also run in Perth from April 8-22. Tickets are available from: https://bit.ly/3H7UNSG