Jodi Thiele
Selected Bibliography
- Puppeteer
- Facilitator
- Forums and Presentations
- Performances
- Stage Management
Jodi is an Australian actor, puppeteer and director. Growing up in rural NSW, Jodi had a very intimate look at how close communities work and function. However, it was theatre and adventure that drew her to the bright lights of Melbourne and eventually Singapore.
Starting her career in theatre, acting and producing work that carried large social themes. It was in 2012 when she discovered her love of puppetry and took off to discover the traditional arts in Asia.
It was then working with Artsolute that introduced her to the power of art for the community, working on various projects with them to this day.
As someone who has had to navigate the complex experience of adapting to and negotiating different cultures, in her work and in her life, she is dedicated to creating work and projects that aid in the processes of resettlement and cultural cohesion.
Since 2013 she's trained in Southeast Asian traditional puppet arts to work with and transform communities tackling natural disaster, refugee crisis, poverty and youth empowerment.
Within the five years, Jodi has worked with ASEAN Foundation, UNIMA, United Nations' Children and Youth, and Waseda University among others using the arts for cultural cohesion and humanitarian aid.
Education and Training
2009- Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) (Undergraduate)
Modules: Drama, Fine Art, Visual Culture, Photography and Creative Writing.
2010-The Victorian College of the Arts (Actors Studio Program)
2013- Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre Company (Physical Actor Training)
Methods of Suzuki technique, Butoh Dance Theatre and Viewpoints.
2013- Sovanna Phum Arts Association, Phnom Pehn, Cambodia
Traditional Khmer Shadow Puppet (Sbeak Thom and Sbeak Touch) training.
2014- Nine Years Theatre 九年剧场 (Suzuki and Viewpoints Theatre Jam)
2014- Finger Players’ Puppetry Master Class
2016- Spare Parts Puppet Theatre’s “Puppetry Intensive” (with Richard Bradshaw, Michael Barlow, Phillip Mitchell & Margaret Williams)\
Selected Biography
Appointments
Advising Artist, Artsolute (Singapore, 2014-Present)
Artsolute conducts projects of community development, cultural exchange, and cultural presentation in Singapore and throughout South-East Asia utilizing processes of Art and Healing
Work includes:
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Conducting research about various Puppetry forms across South-East Asia
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Conducting research on the benefits of art and healing.
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Training volunteers with puppetry, art, cross-cultural communication and art and healing skills.
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Co-ordination and development of community puppet and art workshops
Steering Committee, United Nations Major Group for Children & Youth(UNMGCY)(2015)
Organiser, Facilitator Training and Consultant
Working with international youth of UNMGCY to design and organise the Global Youth Consultation for the United Nations World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey, 2016. The Global Youth Consultation brought together over 200 youths (representing thousands of consulted youths) to Qatar so write the youth declaration detailing the youth recommendations for changes to humanitarian aid globally.
Co-Director of Studio Eleven Theatre Company (Melbourne, 2011-13)
Ensemble member, assistant director, technical and production assistant, workshop facilitator
Studio Eleven produced large ensemble contemporary theatre and promoted self-sufficiency and collaboration. The 13 founding Actors worked on every production, undertaking duties in all areas. It placed strong importance on its continual education in every facet of the theatre industry.
Puppeteer
‘One ASEAN Jakarta’, ASEAN Puppetry Association, at the ASEAN Secretariat (Indonesia, 2015)
Puppeteer
A performance devised by puppeteers from ASEAN’s 10 member states celebrating ASEAN’s 48th Birthday with guests of honour Indonesia’s Vice-President Jusuf Kalla and ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luang Minh
'Rover and Friends', OKTO (Singapore, 2015)
Puppeteer, Lip-sync
Children's television program, various characters.
'The Singapore Story', for SPD’s 50th Anniversary Gala (Singapore, 2014)
Director, Puppet Maker, Performer, Writer, Facilitator
Using puppetry as a means of intervention and education for children with mental disabilities; the Singapore Story was told to guests of SPD’s 50th-anniversary gala dinner including guest of honour Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
'Frizzie Lizzie', Artsolute and Agency for Integrated Care for the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (Singapore, 2014-2015)
Director, Puppet Maker, Performer
Shadow puppet performances to promote awareness and understanding of Dementia among primary schools
'Denise Likes the Arts', Episode 8, OKTO (Singapore, 2014)
Performer, Puppeteer
Introduction of puppetry and performance at Star Vista
'Guest', Word Forward’s Lit Up Festival, at Aliwal Arts Centre and International School Singapore (Singapore 2014)
Writer, Director, Performer, Music Design, Puppet Maker, Facilitator
Telling stories of new citizens, foreign talents and migrant workers, facilitating conversation about residing in Singapore as well as an introduction to puppetry and community puppetry to audiences
Kim Gaik Low Choon Puppet Show and Opera 金玉楼春潮州木偶 (Malaysia, 2014)
Puppeteer, Chinese Opera Performer
Third generation traditional Teochew Rod Puppet and Teochew Opera family.
Two-month intensive internship under master Goh Hui Ling with continued work for the group post-internship.
Performances include: Chingay Festival Parade (Johor Baru)
'A Taste of Teochew Opera', Theatre Lounge Cafe (Kuala Lumpur)
CNY Cultural Celebrations, Ara Damansara (Kuala Lumpur)
Teochew Puppet Opera, 17 Living Story (Penang)
E&O Chinese New Year Event (Penang)
Various Temple Performances (Penang, Ipoh)
'Love on Christmas Night', University Malaysia (Malaysia, 2013)
Assistant Director, Puppet Smith, Puppeteer, Actor
Directed by Saba Asailan under the supervision of Prof. Ghulam. A classic Christmas tale performed using various mediums. Large object puppets, glove puppets, dance, mask and acting.
'The Mythical Month', Kakiseni (Malaysia, 2013)
Puppeteer, Actor, Puppet Smith
Directed by Hamed Zahmatkesh (Iran)
Performances include:
Iranian Community Outreach
20th International Theatre Festival for Children and Youth (Iran)
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Hamadan
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Sheverin
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Talenghani
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Malaysian Community Outreach
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Selangor- TTDI, Serendan
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Johor- Maur
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Perak- Gopeng
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Terengganu- Kemaman
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Pahang- Kampung Sungai Ular, Jengka, Raub
'The Omega Quest', Revolt Production (Melbourne, 2012)
Puppeteer, Puppet Smith
Directed by Tim Mager, A sci-fi action romance space opera utilising the contemporary form of Japanese Bunraku puppetry.
Performances
Funplay Workshops Actor, School Shows (Singapore 2014- 2016)
Actor
Performances include: Hari Raya Puasa, Total Defence Day, Racial Harmony Day and International Friendship day.
Primary and Secondary school students
'21' by Wayne Tunks, Studio Eleven Theatre Company (Melbourne, 2012)
Actor
A play commissioned by Studio Eleven Theatre Company, written and directed by Wayne Tunks
'DNA' by Denis Kelly, Studio Eleven Theatre Company (Melbourne, 2012)
Actor
Directed by Fiona Hallaenan-Baker
'Chapter One', Studio Eleven Theatre Company (Melbourne, 2012)
Actor, Assistant Director
A showcase of local writers and directors
'Staging Health', Deakin University (Melbourne, 2010)
Ensemble Member
Community Street theatre group, Staging health performed at various locations across the University campus raising awareness of health and welfare issues faced by students.
'Feeling Free', Deakin University (Melbourne 2010)
Actor, Dance, Shadow puppeteer
Directed by Brendan Flynn An interdisciplinary performance exploring Gender and Sexuality issues
'High School Assembly', Melbourne International Comedy Festival (Melbourne, 2010)
Dancer
Directed and Produced by The Bedroom Philosopher. A comedy spectacular looking at the hilarity of the school assembly
'Phaedra’s Love' by Sarah Kane, Four-Letter-Word Theatre (Melbourne, 2010)
Actor
Directed by Sara Tabitha Catchpole, Physical theatre performance
'Monstrous Regiment', RMIT Arts Union (Melbourne, 2010)
Actor
Directed by Lynne Ellis, a collection of the best scripts from the RMIT graduating scriptwriting course.
'Happy Days' by Samuel Beckett, Deakin University (Melbourne 2009)
Actor, Director
Under the supervision of Simon Fisher
Stage management
'A Twisted Kingdom', by Dark Matter Theatrics, The Substation (Singapore, 2015)
Stage Manager
Prop construction, stage and rehearsals coordination
'Semoga Bahagia', by Geraldine Song, Drama Center (Singapore, 2015)
Stage Manager
Prop construction, stage and rehearsals coordination
'Mandala', by Insource Theatre, Goodman Arts Center (Singapore, 2014)
Stage Manager
Prop construction, stage and rehearsals coordination
'Streets of Singapore', Harmony World Puppet Carnival, (Bangkok, 2014)
Stage Manager
Lighting design, lighting operation, stage and rehearsals coordination
'Micromanage Overwork Exaggerate (M.O.E.)', by the Common Folk, Goodman Art Center (Singapore, 2014)
Stage Manager
Prop construction, stage and rehearsals coordination
'Sailing Past', Singapore River Festival, by STAGES (2014)
Stage Manager
Prop construction, sound management, stage and rehearsals coordination, outdoor venue.
Facilitator
Arts for Social Change Tour, India(2019)
Puppet Artist and Facilitator
A series of workshops across 3 states in India introducing Artists, Social and Charity workers into concepts of how to use puppetry for social good and community development.
'ASEAN Puppets Exchange (APEX)’, ASEAN Puppetry Association & ASEAN Foundation
Puppet Artist, Moderator, Facilitator, Director
Facilitated dialogue and praxis-led exchanges and performances between ASEAN’s puppeteers and musicians of various traditional and contemporary puppet arts.
Exchanges include:
2016
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(Vietnam“APEX One ASEAN” ) : All 10 ASEAN member states and Japan, with the National Theatre of Vietnam
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“APEX Live” (Malaysia): 7 ASEAN member states and Japan, with Joe Sidek Productions
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“APEX Earth” (Myanmar): 5 ASEAN member states and Japan, with Htwe Oo Myanmar Puppet Family
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(Brunei): 5 ASEAN member states and Japan“APEX Light” , with PeSTAB
2015
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(Cambodia): 5 ASEAN member states and Japan, with Cambodia Living Arts and “APEX Fire” Sovannah Phum Art Association
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“APEX Manila”(The Philippines): Indonesia-Philippines, with Wanlu and his puppets
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“APEX Kuala Lumpur” (Malaysia): Cambodia- Malaysia, with University Malaya
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“APEX UNESCO” (Malaysia): 8 ASEAN member states, with Kakiseni
2014
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“APEX Brunei” (Brunei): Singapore- Brunei, with PeSTAB
‘Puppets & Passages’ (2013 - 2017)
Puppet Artist, Moderator, Facilitator, Director
A series of outreach workshops using basic concepts of puppetry to empower communities while developing Singaporeans’ perspectives of humanity and the Southeast Asian region. Over 6 Years Puppets and Passages have reached out to over 6000 participants and audiences.
Projects include:
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Jogjakarta, Indonesia (2013, 2014):
With GaiaFoundation, training youth affected by the Merapi volcanic eruptions in 2010 on how to use puppetry for community engagement and working with children.
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Fukushima/Singapore (2014):
Working with Peace Boat and the Fukushima Youth Ambassadors empowered Japanese youth affected by the 2011 nuclear meltdown in storytelling as to become future leaders in their community.
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Bangkok, Thailand (2014):
For the World Harmony Puppet festival, teaching Thai youth and International puppet artists on the use of recycled items for community engagement.
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Tacloban, the Philippines (2014, 2015, 2016):
A series of workshops training youth affected by typhoon Yolanda in 2013 with puppetry, leadership and community development skills so that they may be able to become leaders in their community and affect local change.
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Yangon, Myanmar (2016):
Empowering young traditional Burmese puppeteers in facilitation to give workshops to engage more youth to become interested in puppetry and save their art form.
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2017):
Supported by UNIMA Kanguru, working with refugee youth and traditional Malay puppeteer to create better social cohesion in the area.
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Singapore/ASEAN (2017):
Supported by the National Art Gallery of Singapore, bring puppeteers from Southeast Asia to engage Singapore Children and parents in the ASEAN arts and community in a workshop and interactive performance.
Imagining ASEAN: Puppets for Social Change Workshop (Singapore, 2018)
Expert Facilitator
Supported by the National Youth Council, trained 25 ASEAN youths, professional South Korean and Indian artists, alongside trainers Cariad Astles (UK) and Erina Saji (Japan) in the use of puppetry for social change. Participants learnt skills in puppetry, theatre, social development, and community work so they may enrich their projects addressing issues of poverty, climate change, education, violence, and culture in their home countries.
‘Art for persons with dementia’ (Singapore, 2015-2018)
Facilitator and programme design
Using the arts to connect and build relations between persons with dementia and their family and professional caregivers.
Hospitals reached:
Yong En Care Center, SWAMI Care, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, St Lukes Hospital
'Social Emotional Learning Through the Arts’ (Singapore, 2014-2017)
Facilitator, psychosocial intervention
Teaching puppetry and facilitating a performance as a communications, cognitive and empathy tool for students with social and emotional difficulties
Schools engaged:
Morning Star Community Center (Hougang, Bedok North) in collaboration with Ground Up Initiative, Princess Elizabeth Primary School, PCF Sparkletots Preschool (Bedok South), Society for the Physically Disabled, Early Intervention for Infants and Children (Jurong)
Mural Project, Ground-Up Initiative (Singapore, 2015)
Facilitator, Mural Artist
Facilitating workshops with various communities to paint 200m wall for a local community centre
Participants included Primary, Home School and High School Students, Boys on Probation, Mental Health Patients and international Volunteers.
LPE Programme with Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (Singapore, 2014)
Facilitator
Teaching puppetry as a communication and empathy tool for Medicine and Nursing students of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Forums, Presentations
‘Understanding ASEAN through Puppetry and the Ramayana’ at Waseda University with Utervision and Singapore International Foundation (Japan, 2017)
Presenter/Facilitator
‘Playing for our future: Puppetry works as international aid’ at Singapore Drama Educators Association (SDEA) Theatre Arts Conference (Singapore, 2017)
Presenter
‘Artists on Best Practices’ at ASEAN Puppetry Conference with Kakiseni, ASEAN Puppetry Association and UNESCO (Malaysia, 2015)
Moderator
‘An Insight into ASEAN Puppetry’ at ASEAN Puppetry Conference with Kakiseni, ASEAN Puppetry Association and UNESCO (Malaysia, 2015)
Curator
An exhibition presenting puppets of 9 ASEAN states both from professional and community artists. This exhibitions looked into the history of ASEAN puppetry but also presented contemporary developments.
'Art as Psychological First Aid', 3rd United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (Japan, 2015)
Presenter
Introduction and education on psychosocial intervention through arts and puppetry to international participants of the 3rd UN WCDRR
'Art for Empathy', Asia-Pacific Medical Education Conference (Singapore, 2015)
Presenter
Introduction and education on art for empathy, communication and empathy through arts and puppetry to international participants of APME
'Puppetry for Psychosocial Intervention', The Red Pencil Foundation (Singapore, 2015)
Presenter
Introduction and education on psychosocial intervention through puppetry to art therapists and medical workers with The Red Pencil Foundation
ASEAN Puppetry Association's 6th Annual General Meeting (Vietnam, 2014)
Assistant to Singapore Delegate, Rapporteur
Researching and developing ideas for the promotion and development of the ASEAN puppetry community to present to other ASEAN delegates.