About Us
The Hebden Bridge HandmadeParade is a community-generated parade led by local artists which celebrates the creativity, variety and the uniqueness of Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire and its surrounding areas. It culminates in an awe-inspiring parade, in which around 650 people wear the fantastic costumes and carry the spectacular parade art made in open parade art workshops and outreach sessions for schools and other community groups.
The Hebden Bridge HandmadeParade was started by Andrew Kim, a puppeteer who specialises in giant puppets and large-scale community performances, in a desire to create an event to connect the many fabulous local artists with the community. The parade was co-produced in it's first two years by HEADS and Thingumajig Theatre; and is now, in it's third year, produced by Handmade Parade CIC, a bespoke not-for-profit community interest company made up of local artists and organisers.
Our lead artists and organisers
| Andrew Kim (artistic director, finale director) has created and performed puppet and mask plays, parades and pageants for over 17 years with many different companies such as In the Heart of the Beast Theatre, Bread & Puppet Theater, and Horse + Bamboo. Andrew has also served as an organiser and lead artist in several outdoor community-generated events: Artistic Director of the Islewilde (Vashon, WA), Director of the Fremont Summer Solstice Pageant (Seattle), Artistic Director of the Dream Parade (Taiwan), and the Finale Director of the Liverpool Halloween Lantern Carnival. In 2006, Andrew and his partner Kathy Kim founded Thingumajig Theatre which is now the hub of their work. |  |
| Rebecca Dearden (organiser) One of Rebecca’s most successful ventures was the Empty, Swept and Garnished project in a derelict office building in the centre of Shrewsbury, bringing together nine artists, arts students, volunteers and the public for a fortnight’s exhibition, along with workshops and outreach. As well as curating more than 10 exhibitions, she has worked as a freelance consultant with the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival and with arts and regeneration organisation Beam. See her work at www.elsewise.co.uk. |  |
| Alison Duddle (lead artist) is a visual theatre maker and director, creating both tiny puppet worlds and large parade images. Alison is associate director with Horse + Bamboo Theatre, and has recently directed Little Leap Forward and In the Shadow of Trees, as well as creating masks and puppets for their productions over the last 10 years. Alison has also worked with US-based In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre on their annual MayDay parade and pageant. |  |
| Kathy Kim (associate artist) started off her theatre career as an actor/musician, working for many small-scale touring companies, such as Forest Forge, Solent People’s Theatre and TheatreVan. Since her long association with Horse + Bamboo Theatre started in 1998, she has also become a mask performer and puppeteer. She is co-director of Thingumajig Theatre. |  |
| Kerith Ogden (lead artist) is a freelance artist who has worked around the UK and in Europe at many festivals, large-scale outdoor community events, shows and parades for the last 15 years. She has worked as artist and maker, and in design and production with companies including Action Factory Community Arts, Proper Job Theatre, Theatre Modo, and the Beltane Fire Society. She specialises in creating parade costumes and large withie structures and puppets that end up far too big to get out of the door. |
 |
Theo Wickenden (lead artist) Sculpture and painting are the focus of Theo's practice although he has also designed and implemented projects that incorporate drama, game playing, puppetry, and film making. |
 |
| Soozin Hirschmugl (visiting artist) is a puppeteer, theater director, visual artist, and spectacle/pageant director from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA. She is here on a Travel Study Grant from the Jerome Foundation to visit groups specializing in community and spectacle based theater work. Soozin has worked as a staff member and creative artist at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, The Bread and Puppet Theater, Barebones Puppets and Chicks on Sticks, an all female Stilt group in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has also worked on several community based art installations and programs with the Art Shanty Projects, and Bedlam Theater. She is extremely excited about visiting and participating in the workshops of the Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade. More information at www.soozinhirschmugl.com |  |
Rachel Hyde (stilt instructor) has worked as an artist and performer for over 15 years performing and teaching circus skills with various companies throughout Europe and the Far East. |
 |
| Jamima Latimer (inflatables instructor) Based at her unique home in Todmorden, Jamima is the creative force behind Spacecadets. Since 1999 Jamima has created inflatable sculptures for visual events both nationally and internationally and has run award winning workshops. Today she continues to explore how diverse and versatile the medium of inflatables and fabric can be and has worked with a number a number of creative companies including Walk the Plank, Cirque Bijou, Creative Partnerships, Chol Theatre, the Bridgewaterhall, Xtrax, and MIA (Manchester International Arts). |  |
| Mitch Oldham (Handmade Samba Brigade leader) originally from Nottingham now lives in Todmorden. He has been a professional Drummer, Percussionist and World Music educator for nearly 20 years. Mitch plays Drum Kit and a wide variety of percussion instruments from Brazil, Cuba, Japan and the Middle-East. He has performed, toured and recorded with artists like Gerry and the Pacemakers, P.J.Proby, Wayne Fontana, The Platters, Tony Crane (Merseybeats), Dave Dee, Brian Poole (Tremeloes) and U.S. Country and Western music legends Billie Jo Spears and Stella Parton. Mitch has gigged all over the world from the Albert Hall to Las Vegas, Hawaii to Australia. His main passion is the music from what we know as Latin America with a special interest in Samba from Brazil. He has performed and led street processions at various events across the UK including Edinburgh Festival, Notting-Hill Carnival and the World Scout Jambouree. Visit: www.mitcholdham.com |  |
| Fran Sierrevogel (outreach artist) |  |
| Jude Wadley (outreach artist) is a freelance artist and Project Manager, working in a variety of Education and Community settings and with companies such as HEADS, Creative Partnerships, Action Factory and The Handmade Parade. She specialises in 2-D visual art, especially textiles, and has a person centred approach to facillitating others' creativity. |  |
| Sue Walpole (outreach artist) is an experienced and versatile community artist working in mixed media. She has worked with all ages in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals and museums. She regularly works for two community arts companies as well as freelance on textile, costume, mural, processional and sculptural projects. Her skills as costume and prop designer have been utilised by Walk the Plank, High Hat Theatre, Proper Job Theatre and the Handmade Parade. Sue also delivers recycling workshops for the ATC in Hebden Bridge. |  |
