Hello friends!

We are two students, Hanne Lammi and Maija Westerholm, from Turku (FIN) University of applied sciences/Arts Academy, the department of puppet theatre. Our mutual interest lies in street art and inclisive theatre for social purposes. In our studies we have gained experiences of street performances and work shops. Now we have prepared an inclusive performance called “The Wishing Bird“.

The Wishing Bird is a moving street performance with a large ostrich puppet animated by two puppeteers. Performance is partly a work shop project. Audience can participate in the work shop by leaving their wish on the back of the ostrich. They can mark their wish on the loose feather of the bird and glue it on with the other wishes. They can let their wish grow by letting it go!

We got invited to Backstreet festival with our Wishing bird Hjalmar. Our only problem is that the festival is located to Alexandria, Egypt, and we are in Finland. Festival is willing to pay for our transportation and accommodation in Egypt but the thing is to get there. Thats why our main goal now is to raise funds for our flights.

Our project is very dedicated for the local people and their conditions after the revolution. Metaphorically it will correspond to their feelings and hopes for a better future if they can concrete their thoughts on the feathers of the bird. Our bird gives people the opportunity to share ideas and thoughts with their peers as well as people of different situation ultimately offering the possibility to build a bird manifesting their hopes and dreams.

Our main goal here in Mesenaatti is to gather money for the flights to Egypt, Alexandria. Festival will provide us transoprtation, accommodation and food in Egypt so the flight tickets are the only missing thing for us – two poor puppeteer students. Help us and Hjalmar the Ostrich get to Egypt!

Our Youtube video in English