Panadream Theatre Press Kit - Association québécoise des

Panadream Theatre Press Kit
Christopher Godziuk and Lydia Lukidis
founded Panadream Theatre in 2007. Before
they came together as co-artistic directors,
Christopher had been working in the field of
puppetry since 2000 and Lydia had studied
English Literature and visual arts. The
company now specializes mainly in
traditional string marionettes, but also
explores other mediums of puppetry. They
design and build all of their marionettes,
sets, and props, and they write their own
original stories and tour their shows.
Christopher and Lydia also create and
manipulate puppets for use in mediums such
as film, video, and musical performances.
Panadream Theatre focuses on theatre for
young audiences and produces plays for
children aged 2 to 12 and their families.
These plays are ideal for small theatres,
festivals, schools, daycares, corporate
events, community centres and libraries. In
addition, they also offer puppet making,
manipulation and theatre workshops. In each
workshop, the students are guided to create
their own unique puppets and are able to
manipulate their creations behind a
professional puppet theatre stage.
Panadream Theatre has presented their work
at the 21st UNIMA Congress and World
Puppetry Festival (China), the
International Puppetry Festival “Visiting
Arlekin” (Russia), the Puppets Up!
International Puppet Festival (Ontario),
the Toronto International Circus Festival and at the Just for Laughs Festival (Montreal), among many others.
They have also collaborated on independent projects for Cirque du Soleil and musical artist Feist, and have
constructed and manipulated string marionettes for the movie Mirror Mirror directed by Tarsem Singh, starring
Julia Roberts.
Company Mandate
Panadream Theatre is dedicated to creating
quality theatre and workshops for young
audiences, and aims to help cultivate
children’s imagination and creativity. By
exposing children to marionette theatre and
the art of puppet building, the team seeks to
stimulate their imagination, stir their
emotions, and open their hearts. Panadream
Theatre is committed to producing shows
that are not only entertaining, but also
educational and interactive, that compel
their audience to laugh, think and feel. In
addition, the puppet creation workshops are
designed to engage and inspire the children,
as well as activate their artistic potential.
Role Within the Artistic Community
Panadream Theatre is an active member of the Association québécoise des marionnettistes and of the Union
Internationale de la Marionnette which are organizations that help bring the community of puppeteers together
and facilitate the diffusion of their work. The company is very involved in the puppetry scene in Montreal and
beyond: Lydia has been sitting on the board of directors of the AQM as treasurer since 2010 and is also part of the
UNIMA Canada and Revue committees, and she collaborates with the UNIMA Women’s Commission. The
company is also an active member of both the Playwright’s Workshop Montreal and the Regroupement arts et
culture Rosemont–Petit-Patrie.
Panadream Theatre is community-oriented and gets involved in festivals, charity events and other special cultural
events that expose the public to art. They regularly give free workshops and shows for charitable causes, and are
always interested in promoting art with outreach programs for underprivileged children. They feel driven to keep
the ancient tradition of string puppetry alive.
Touring (selected)
The Giant Magician (currently touring):
November 2012: Maison Brignon-dit-Lapierre- Montreal
August 2012: Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival- Almonte, Ontario
April 2012: Hudson Village Theatre- Montreal
February 2012: Montreal Highlights Festival- Nuit Blanche- Montreal
November 2011: Centaur Theatre- Montreal
August 2011: Hamilton Art Gallery- Hamilton
July 2011: Montreal International Jazz Festival- Montreal
July 2011: Îles-des-Moulins Historial Site- Terrebonne
July 2011: Neighborhood on the Move Festival- Montreal
May 2011: Toronto International Circus Festival- Toronto
May 2011: premiere at Centaur Theatre- Montreal
Yorgo & the World (currently touring):
November 2012: Maison Culturelle Montréal-Nord- Montreal
May-June 2012: 21st UNIMA Conference and Puppet Festival- Chengdu, China
June 2012: Jinsha Site Museum- Chengdu, China
April 2012: Maison de la culture de la Vallée de la Gatineau- Maniwaki
March 2012 & March 2011: Centaur Theatre- Montreal
July 2011: Just for Laughs Festival- Montreal
April-May 2011: International Puppetry Festival “Visiting Arlekin”- Omsk, Russia
July 2010: Montreal International Jazz Festival- Montreal
July 2010: Neighborhood on the Move- Montreal
September 2010: Journées de la culture- Montreal
February 2010: premiere at Montreal Highlights Festival- Nuit Blanche
Chris’ Crazy Cabaret (for smaller audiences):
January 2009-now: currently touring Canada at various community centres, daycares, and private
functions
Forkman (retired):
November 2008-2010: toured across Canada at various festivals, theatres, libraries, museums, daycares,
schools and community centres, the show was presented over 120 times
August 2010: The Hellenic Flame Greek Festival- Montreal
July 2010 & 2009: Montreal International Jazz Festival- Montreal
March 2010 : Canadian Museum of Civilization, Children’s Museum- Ottawa
August 2009: La Fête des Enfants- Montreal
May 2009: Toronto International Circus Festival- Toronto
February 2009: Montreal Highlights Festival- Nuit Blanche- Montreal
November 2008: premiere at Geordie Theatre- Montreal
Various puppet making workshops:
June 2007-now: workshops given across Canada at various festivals, libraries, museums, daycares,
schools and community centres
Festivals (selected): Pointe-Claire Cultural Festival, Montreal International Jazz Festival,
Neighborhood on the Move, Journées de la culture, Vaudreuil-Dorion Circus Festival
Libraries (selected): Montreal Children’s Library, Georges-Vanier Library, Langelier Library,
Kirkland Library, Ottawa Public Library, Roland-LeBlanc Library, Mercier Library
Other venues (selected): Museum of Civilization- Children’s Museum (Ottawa), Sainte-Marie Catholic
School (Ottawa),City of Kirkland, General Vanier Elementary School, Montessori International,
Montessori Blainville, Îles-des-Moulins, Selwyn House Elementary School, Ethan’s Playground,
Gault School Daycare, Pointe- Claire Cultural Centre, Camp Chabad Gan Israel
Contract Work (selected)
October 2012: designed and constructed a custom hand puppet of a fish for Clean Nova Scotia, for touring school
shows about the environment
March 2012: constructed and manipulated string marionettes for the movie Mirror Mirror directed by Tarsem
Singh, starring Julia Roberts
January & February 2011: created choreography for a string marionette used in a dance show produced by
Emmanuelle Calvé, presented at Maisons de la Culture Mont-Royal, Frontenac, Côte-des-Neiges and
Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension
June 2010: participated in the creation of Mosaika, a sound and light show produced by Moment Factory for
Parliament Hill in Ottawa
October 2009: performed in Bread & Puppet Theatre's show, the “Lubberland National Dance Company in 13
Dirt Cheap Cathedrals”
April 2009: collaborated on marionette design and choreography, and manipulated puppets for a special event for
Cirque du Soleil, under the direction of artistic director Michel Laprise
April 2008: collaborated on choreography and manipulated a marionette in a dance piece for Emanuelle Calvé
presented in the context of the Vue sur la relève festival
November 2007: designed and constructed a shadow puppet projection table and shadow puppets in collaboration
with Clea Minaker for the Feist concert tour, including her appearance at the Juno awards
August 2007: designed and constructed a custom string marionette for Emmanuelle Calvé, used in a
dance/puppetry piece, also manipulated the marionette for shows in the Danse Buissonnière series at Tangente
Theatre in Montreal
July 2007: designed and built marionettes and props, and performed in a special Cirque du Soleil two-day event
under the direction of artistic director Michel Laprise
June 2007: collaborated with Moment Factory on a shadow puppet video that was presented during the Cirque
du Soleil performance “Luna Rosa” at the F1 Grand Prix party
Grants/awards
2012: Awarded the prize for
Excellence in Costume Design for
Yorgo & the World at the 21st UNIMA
Congress and World Puppetry Festival
in Chengdu, China
2012: Awarded an Audience and
Market Development grant from
Canada Council for the Arts
2011: Awarded a travel grant from
Canada Council for the Arts
2011: Awarded a travel grant from
Conseil des arts et des lettres du
Québec
2010: Awarded a creation grant from
Canada Council for the Arts
2008: Won award for best project, and
awarded a production grant from
Youth Employment Services and the
Fondation du Maire de Montreal
pour la Jeunesse
2005: Awarded a research and
development grant from the Alberta
Foundation for the Arts
Artists’ Bios
Christopher Godziuk
Christopher Godziuk is a multidisciplinary artist trained in the
mediums of puppetry, theatre, writing, dance and video. Before cofounding Panadream Theatre, Christopher studied theatre at
Grande Prairie Regional College and at the University of
Lethbridge. In 2000, Christopher co-founded a marionette
company called Peanut Butter Productions, where he helped write
and direct various puppetry plays. Following this, Christopher
completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Contemporary Dance
at Concordia University in Montreal. While at Concordia,
Christopher studied creative process, choreography, movement
technique, music and video.
Christopher now integrates all the skills he acquired over the years
into his work with Panadream Theatre. In addition to co-writing,
producing and directing all of the company’s plays, he designs and
constructs the marionettes, props and sets. He also manages details
related to music and lighting. He has designed and built over 50
marionettes and 25 other puppets, and continues to research and explore innovative constructive techniques.
His vision is to produce work that combines the mediums of puppetry and theatre through story, thus creating a
stimulating and imaginative experience for the audience. Christopher’s desire as an artist is to help people see the
beauty of life through art.
Lydia Lukidis
Lydia Lukidis is a multidisciplinary artist with a passion for creation
and visual arts on many levels. Before entering the realm of puppets,
she explored such mediums as writing, performing, designing,
painting, drawing and printmaking. She studied English Literature at
McGill University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree.
Having also trained in wax carving, soldering and gemology, she is
an award-winning silver and goldsmith who founded her own
jewellery company and label in 1999.
Today, Lydia co-writes, produces and directs all of Panadream
Theatre’s plays along with Christopher. She assists in the design of
marionettes, puppets and sets, and is in charge of the design and
creation of props, backdrops and costumes. She continues her
training through various puppet making workshops, and has been
coached by world-renowned clowns Francine Côté and James
Keylon in acting, clowning and physical theatre techniques.
She considers herself a storyteller and a magic maker, and her work
always seeks to provoke thought and feeling. Through entertaining
and educational puppet shows, she seeks to help children cultivate
their own imagination, pursue their dreams, and believe in
themselves. Her personal mandate as an artist has always been to
spread love and light.
Panadream Theatre in the media
Panadream Theatre has had extensive press coverage; for example, the company has been profiled on television
several times by CTV News in Montreal and Ottawa, as well as Odyssey Television Network. Christopher and
Lydia were also featured in a 6 episode reality television web series created by CBC.
Their work has received reviews by such newspapers and magazines as The Gazette, The Mirror, Hour, Nightlife,
The Monitor, Guide de Montréal-Nord and The Suburban in Montreal, as well as Edmonton Journal, Vancouver
Sun, Calgary Herald, L’Express Toronto and Ottawa, and Alberta’s Herald Tribune and Ink.
Please contact the artists for pricing or for more information:
www.panadreamtheatre.com
[email protected]
514.995.4762
Special thanks for support from Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et des
lettres du Québec, La Fondation du Maire de Montréal Pour la Jeunesse and Youth
Employment Services.