Three puppet characters against a pink wall with a city beyond; an advertisement for Puppets against AIDS by the African Research and Educational Puppetry Programme (AREPP). Colour lithograph, ca. 1996.

Johannesburg (P.O. Box 51022, Raedene 2124, Johannesburg, South Africa) : AREPP, African Research and Educational Puppetry Programme, [1996?]

1 print : lithograph, printed in colours ; sheet 45 x 30.4 cm

AREPP Presents Puppets Against AIDS Bears logo: AREPP a puppet figure against a silhouette shape of Africa

Puppets Against Aids' was launched by Gary Friedman in Johannesburg in late 1987, on his return from studying 'Puppetry for Film and Television' with Jim Henson in France. He set up the African Research and Educational Puppetry Programme in order to research traditions of puppet and mask theatre on the African continent. At the same time, he aimed at introducing puppetry into communities that hadn't been exposed to the art before. Puppets Against Aids' used both humour and entertainment to help spread the Aids prevention message worldwide, through live performance and workshops. These took place throughout Africa, Canada, Australia and Europe over the next nine years.

The premise for puppetry, tested in South Africa in the 80's in anti-apartheid work, is that "puppets can do anything they want without fear of harassment." (extract from http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/html )

Wellcome Collection 678932i

African Research and Educational Puppetry Programme 1996? African Research and Educational Puppetry Programme South Africa 21/09/2009 current contact for AREPP: info@africanpuppet.com UkLW UK Transcription from the item