Mousetale Puppets

		Name: David Stewart Age: 34 years young Home: I live in Pumpherston, West Lothian, Scotland with my wife Lyndsay and our three young children. Education: Graduated in 2000 from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee University, with First Class BDes (Hons) Ceramics. Values: I am a committed Christian and have served in various capacities over the years as a children's/youth leader and in music ministry. God, the Creator, made us to be creative! I'm so grateful to be using the creative abilities He has given me and encouraging others to do the same. Favourite films: Finding Nemo and Labyrinth Favourite music: Everything from Classical to Techno Hobbies & Interests: Music (I play several instruments), Creative Dance, Escaping to the hills (when I get to!) ...mmm a combination of all three might be interesting!

I have had an interest in puppets and the theatre as long as I can remember. This probably dates back to early pantomime visits when I was 4 or 5. I remember being hugely inspired at that age by the use of puppets in a panto and this helped performance and puppetry become an integral part of my childhood play.

When I was about 8 my dad built me a model theatre - complete with scenery and trapdoor! I soon wired in some lights too.

Puppetry became a serious hobby when I was about 13 or 14. Realising this, my parents took me to see the famous Purves Puppets at their theatre in Biggar. I was inspired to start working with ultraviolet and bought my first UV light in 1991, aged 14.

By the age of 16 I had built my own stage and was producing my own shows at home with Saturday shows for family and friends. I sold tickets and put the money towards better equipment and materials.

While at school, I chose to arrange my own 4th year work placement week - at Biggar Puppet Theatre with the Purves Puppets. This went so well that I returned for a week the following year.

In 1993 I was asked to do some puppetry as part of a service in a nearby church. This was the first time I had performed my own work for an "audience" outside the house and it led to further similar invitations.

In 1994 I started performing my own shows in local schools and this continued on an amateur basis for about 7 years, during which I managed to get the best grades in my year at school and the best Degree in my class at Art College.

In 1996 I wrote a new story about a mouse called Oscar. It was called Oscar and the Deep-sea Pearl...

I graduated in 2000 from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee University, with First Class BDes (Hons) Ceramics.

I turned professional in August 2001 under the name Mousetale Puppets and began touring Scotland...

In January 2002 I had a chance meeting with another puppeteer, Sylvia Troon, who quickly became a great friend and support to me. It was she who introduced me to the Puppet Animation Festival and the Scottish Mask & Puppet Centre.

In Spring 2003 I performed for the first time in the Puppet Animation Festival, the UK's oldest and largest Performing Arts event for children. I have toured successfully in the Festival every year since.

My tours have taken me to some very special places including the Islands of Islay, Coll, Mull, Colonsay and Shetland. I have performed in established professional theatres such as the Netherbow in Edinburgh, Gilmorehill G12 in Glasgow, Rothes Halls in Fife, Hamilton Town House, the Byre Theatre, St Andrews and Pitlochry Festival Theatre to name but a few... I have also performed in village halls so rural that I had to move sheep to get my van door open!!!

In 2004 I started offering workshops to schools. This followed the success of an experimental workshop project in a Fife school in 2002.