WA audiences mourn loss of master puppeteer

• Internationally acclaimed theatrical talent leaves legacy of joy and respect
• Noriko Nishimoto honoured as WA Living Treasure in 2015

Australia has lost a great theatrical talent with the passing of former Spare Parts Puppet Theatre artistic director Noriko Nishimoto.

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said Ms Nishimoto was one of the nation's foremost puppeteers.

"Noriko was considered a master of the art, both in Australia and internationally, with more than 45 years in the industry," Mr Day said.  "In 2015, she was honoured as one of Western Australia's Living Treasures for her outstanding contribution to puppetry.

"Noriko's career was driven by her passion for puppetry and her enduring legacy will be the generations of performers and students who learned from her brilliance."

Ms Nishimoto worked as a performer, writer and director for 16 years at the highly regarded La Clarte Puppet Theatre in Osaka before visiting Perth in the early 1980s at the invitation of director Peter Wilson to spend six weeks working as master puppeteer on the Festival of Perth production Faust.

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre was formed following the success of Faust and Ms Nishimoto was invited to spend a year working with the company as a master puppeteer and technique master.

She stayed on to become an Australian citizen and performed and trained other performers both within the company and through master classes across Australia's capital cities.  She toured with the company through Australia, China, Korea, Japan, Canada and the United States of America.

Ms Nishimoto was recognised in 2008 by the global Union internationale de la Marionnette for her contribution to puppetry in Australia.

Among her productions were The Bugalugs Bum Thief, Cat Balloon, The Deep, Eat the Moon and the large-scale The Midnight Gang in collaboration with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.  Her recent projects included Moominpappa at Sea and The Fox.

"Noriko was an exceptional talent and she will be sadly missed by Western Australian audiences and the arts sector," the Minister said.

Minister's office - 6552 6200