Paperhand Puppet Project debuts new show amid recovery from Tropical Storm Chantal

The Paperhand Puppet Project debuted its show, The Gift, just over a month after its studio in Saxapahaw flooded during Tropical Storm Chantal.

Executive Director Donovan Zimmerman said the theatre is facing more than $100,000 in losses, including some of the puppets used in performances.

The studio is the space the crew used to create their puppets and store their equipment, much of which was destroyed in the floods.

“Waters rose and came into our studio, about a foot high,” he said. “We were originally scheduled to open on August 8th. We knew right away when the craziness of the storm came and went, we weren’t going to be able to stay on schedule.”

Zimmerman said they used the space for the last 15 years, and many of the puppets stored there were historic.

“There were puppets that were lying on the ground that were soaked through with water and mud,” Zimmerman recalled. “The paper machete that we made the masks turned back into oatmeal.”

The Gift, which opened on Friday, took on an unexpected layer of meaning. It focuses on stories related to water.

“We really have been receiving our lessons from the water recently,” Zimmerman said. “Mainly, I think about it’s a good practice in life to let go. Just let it flow on downstream and not get overly attached to things.”

The Paperhand Puppet Project moved into a new studio, which they had already planned to move into before the flood, several months ahead of schedule and are working to recover the damages.

Audiences can see them perform at the Forest Theatre through Sept. 28. Tickets can be purchased on their website.