PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & RESEARCH COMMISSION 

Janni Younge is a creator of multimedia theatrical works, with a focus on puppetry arts. By blending puppetry with theatrical innovation, Janni Younge’s productions delve into the multifaceted beauty of being human. Amongst Janni’s recent notable work, her 2023 interpretation of Handel’s opera Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, was produced and presented by the Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin and her interpretation of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, showcased in the USA as did The Firebird. The latter was performed at venues such as Ravinia and the Hollywood Bowl. Currently touring are Origins, a collaboration with guitarist Derek Gripper, and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet created in 2022. Hamlet was co-produced by The South African National Arts Festival, the Chicago International puppetry festival and The Baxter Theatre Centre and was curated into the 10th International Theatre Olympics in Budapest. In Europe, several of Janni’s productions run in repertory in Poland, Germany, and Hungary. She devised and directed Take Flight (Animacji Theatre, Poland); Wild Heart (BTL), Lumka (with Inala Theatre) and Fujka (Teatrem Lalek Pleciuga). In addition Janni recently directed Momo, The Neverending Story (both Michael Ende), and the collaborative work with Recirquel: Solus Amour.

As a director at Handspring Puppet Company, Janni created Ouroboros and directed revivals of William Kentridge’s Woyzeck on the Highveld and Ubu and the Truth Commission. Janni designed the puppetry for The Baxter and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of The Tempest. Her work has been recognised with awards such as the SBYAA for Theatre, 5 Fleur du Cap awards, four ACTF Kennedy Centre awards (including best direction), and the Polish Nagroda for direction. Janni holds a Masters in Theatre from the University of Cape Town (UCT), a DMA (Diploma in the Art of Puppetry) from ESNAM (the French National School of Puppet Theatre), and an honours BA in Fine Arts from UCT. Beyond the stage, her contributions extend to teaching and scholarly articles on puppetry. Janni has taught puppetry in many tertiary and professional training institutions including UCT, UC Davis, Academia Teatralne Białystock (University of Warsaw) and UNIMA Madrid summer school. Currently, she leads Janni Younge Productions and also directs UNIMA SA, the South African association of puppetry. As a director of UNIMA SA Janni ran the Out The Box Festival 2005-2011 (an international festival which programmed over 60 Companies at each later edition) and launched the Active Puppets Program, currently based in UNIMA SA’s community centre Indawo Yobomi. UNIMA SA focusses on building bridges between people in the arts and on using puppetry as a tool for mutual understanding as well as artistic excellence. Pro-Vocation: Roots and Wings 2024, one of UNIMA SA’s most significant projects to date, brings tought leadreship in puppetrytraining from African and the world together in Cape Town. A past member of the UNIMA Women’s Commission and Festivals Commission, Janni is currently a member of the Humanitas Commission, The Training Commission and she is Secretary General of the Africa Commission.