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MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO

West End Transfer

Running now at The Gillian Lynne Theatre

"Basil Twist, the creator of the stunning puppets at the heart of stage production 'My Neighbour Totoro'" (Monocle)

My Neighbour Totoro is an enchanting coming-of-age story exploring the magical fantasy world of childhood and the transformative power of imagination, as it follows one extraordinary summer in the lives of sisters Satsuki and Mei. Basil Twist designed and directed the Puppetry.

For Tickets

THE MONKEY KING

A monkey born from stone, Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) is determined to find immortality for his tribe. Many scoff at his aspirations, but he is set on proving them wrong with his signature cunning and charm. Award-winning director Diane Paulus and puppeteer Basil Twist conjure up a whimsical world of gods, tricksters, superheroes, and rebels. Huang Ruo’s soaringly beautiful, energized score and David Henry Hwang’s incisive libretto blend traditional Chinese and contemporary Western styles into an extraordinary work that gives new voice to this enduring story.

MORE INFO HERE

WINTER'S TALE

SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE FILM

AVAILABLE FOR SCREENINGS NOW Twist revisited his legendary masterpiece with live accompaniment by the virtuosic Christopher O'Riley playing the exquisite Liszt transcription for concert piano and in a significantly larger aquarium in 2018. Symphonie floated and swirled for a critically lauded and sold-out six-month run, fortunately allowing the finest performances to be captured in front of, behind, and inside the 1,000-gallon water tank by Twist's own hand. The resulting film is not just a document of a performance but rather an artistic expression in its own right. It weaves imagery as seen by the audience with the unseen backstage ballet of the puppeteers and the emotional synergy of the live musical performance. The film's World premiere was at the 2019 World Puppetry Festival in Charleville Mezieres, France. This is Basil Twist’s first full length film.

ART OF BASIL TWIST EXHIBITION

Basil’s work has reached audiences beyond the walls of the theater in part through Richard Termine's singular photography. From the intimate underwater abstraction of “Symphonie Fantastique” to the gigantic “Rite of Spring”, Richard's camera has uniquely captured Basil's development as a puppeteer, designer, and director. This exhibition is presented by Tandem Otter Productions and has been funded with major support from The Jane Henson Foundation and Cheryl Henson. Available for bookings now. Email Barbara@tandemotter.org for more information.


From the The Art of Basil Twist exhibition at The Chicago International Puppet Festival 2023

Since coming to New York over 23 years ago, Basil Twist has garnered an international reputation as an audacious designer, director and performer. He creates iconic, visionary puppetry worlds with a remarkable range of style and scope appearing in intimate nightclubs to large orchestra halls. He is a sought after collaborator for theater, dance, opera and film. His utterly unique approaches have been recognized with multiple awards and fellowships; critical acclaim and have furthered contemporary artistry and the technical craft of puppetry.

"No theatre artist in New York is showing more poetic force or technical skill than the puppeteer Basil Twist." -The New Yorker


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