Peaceful Exit A Few of Our Favorite Things 2025
Dec 23, 2025
Join Basil Twist, a visionary puppeteer, as he discusses how puppetry explores life, death, and presence. Joél Simone, a death educator, delves into culturally aware death care and the significance of memory pictures. Poet Danusha Laméris shares a poignant poem about her son, reflecting on grief and presence. Oliver Burkeman, an author, emphasizes how accepting our mortality can shape our use of time, urging us to prioritize meaningful moments over endless productivity. Together, they offer profound insights into life, loss, and the importance of memory.
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Puppetry Reveals Life's Thin Veil
- Puppetry highlights the thin veil between life and nonlife by animating the inanimate with delicate control.
- Basil Twist says this tension makes puppetry profoundly affective and uncanny for audiences.
Stickman: A Marionette With History
- Basil Twist describes Stickman, a wooden marionette he carved in France and has performed with for over 30 years.
- He calls the puppet an extension of himself due to years of careful stringing and mastery passed down by teachers.
Onstage Life Cycles Mirror Mortality
- A puppet's life cycle onstage often mirrors birth, animation, and return to inertness, prompting questions about spirit and absence.
- Twist suggests puppetry makes audiences confront what's left behind when spirit leaves form.