Rag and Bone Puppet Theatre was started in 1978 by the husband and wife team of Kathy MacLellan and John Nolan. Their integrated arts pre¬sentations combine puppetry, theatre, storytelling, dance, music and visual art. The music is performed live on a wide variety of authentic instruments, including hurdy-gurdy, dulcimer, Chinese drums, gongs, synthesizer, bones, bull-roarer, accordion, rain maker, electric guitar and more! A Rag and Bone Puppet Theatre performance can be used as a focal point for discussion of various art elements and as inspiration for your students’ own music, dance and drama.

Rag and Bone Puppet Theatre is the proud recipient of The Citation of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry from UNIMA, which is the international puppetry association.

Imagine a talking cat…a devil at a dance…a bear in a canoe…a magical creature all together in a fantastic and fun introduction to the culture, music and language (mostly in English, with a soupçon of French) of the first Francophones in Canada. The voyageurs, loggers, trappers and farmers, whose humour, imagination and courage helped found Canada become the backdrop to this charming performance. Featuring puppets, early film footage, traditional songs and video, The Flying Canoe is a fun and entertaining experience that also boasts lots of curriculum connections!

Set somewhere in the Ottawa valley, pioneers and first settlers live in an animal village called Felicity Falls. In this performance, stuffed animals act out funny stories about families. A lost teddy bear, a leaky roof and a little rabbit who can’t sleep are a few of the charming scenarios that will delight students and teachers alike. Felicity Falls is about community and about working together to build a home ­– because Felicity means happiness.

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story, The Nightingale is set in ancient China where the Emperor has everything but must choose between a clockwork nightingale studded with jewels and a real nightingale, whose song brings tears to his eyes. A small bird teaches the Great Emperor the value of simple things and true friendship.