Work Experience Insight by Nina Brown

Here at the A+E Lab this week, I have been working with **Half a String for my work experience on their latest project, “[Space Chickens](https://www.halfastring.co.uk/the-puppet-van-presents.html)**”.

Half a String are a Canterbury-based touring theatre company that perform mainly through the use of puppetry, and, as seen on their website, “explore ideas to create accessible, intelligent and astonishing work that champions meaningful collective experiences”. Their use of puppetry has been truly impressive, and has taught me about the art behind puppetry, from the construction of the puppets to the interaction and intense focus required by the puppeteer to bring a puppet to life.

The main character of “Space Chickens”.

Over the past week I have documented their progress in creation, choreography and development of “Space Chickens”, which will have a public showing today (Friday 21st June) at A+E Lab in Historic Dockyard Chatham from 4–5pm, so that the public can offer feedback on the performance so far.

As well as learning about puppetry, I have also come to learn so much more about the community of artists. One of my focuses has been teamwork, and how artists collaborate to create something that is more than just the sum of its parts, and I can confidently say that I have seen a performance become more enriched with humour in the last four days. Working harmoniously and communication is such a vital aspect of creation projects, especially with something as complicated as animating a chicken puppet.

Peter and Dorthea in rehearsals, Day 1

“Space Chickens” will be touring alongside another of Half a String’s puppetry performances, “The Lost Colour”, and both have been custom-designed to operate on top of their Puppet Van, an innovative and efficient way of not only transporting their sets, but also ensuring that their audience can be much bigger, and more people can see a performance. Half a String a constantly touring, but “Space Chickens” tour dates range from May to September 2024, and beyond.

“Space Eggs”

The Set

What I most enjoyed during the week was looking at the music production, because this helped me to see aspects of music that I have not previously seen. The music style of “Space Chickens” is a futuristic fusion of sci-fi techno with elements of farm/country music added in by the banjo motifs, and because I mostly use acoustic instruments, it allowed me to explore music and sound effects made by software, which was incredibly interesting and refreshing.

Learning from Patrick about sound design

I look forward to seeing performances of “Space Chickens” in the future, such as at the **bOing**! festival on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August, and also using the skills that I have learnt from this week (from being able to step into an unknown environment and work with professionals, to sanding down wood) in the future, possibly even with a career!

With Half a String & A+E Lab team

More about Half a String and A+E Lab: Half a String Website: https://www.halfastring.co.uk/ Half a String Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halfastring/ A+E Lab Website: https://aelab.uk/ A+E Lab Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aelab.uk/ AΦE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aoiesteban/ Support A+E Lab projects via donation Space Chicken is supported by Arts Council England A+E Lab is supported by Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (iCCi) — University of Kent and Visual Elements