Banyan Theatre a touring puppet company based in Derry, Northern Ireland. Banyan was established in 1992 and tours nationally and Internationally. Banyan offers puppet shows, storytelling, puppet making and creative arts based workshops. Banyan also provides Masterclasses, puppetry consultation/Directing and custom made puppets.

Karen Torley – puppeteer
Director and co-founder of Banyan Theatre, a touring puppet company established in Norwich in 1993 along with Joy Haynes (Little Chair Productions), Karen has been working as a Theatre maker, puppeteer and art facillitator for over 30 years creating and touring shows both nationally and internationally. Karen has been involved as a director, designer/maker and performer with many companies throughout the UK and Ireland including Norwich Puppet Theatre, The Little Angel Theatre, London, Purves Puppets, Scotland, Leicester Haymarket, AnNua Productions, Derry, The Earagail arts festival, Ireland and In Your Space Circus, Derry.

Relocating Banyan to Derry, N.Ireland in 1998 Karen continues to tour shows teach puppetry/object theatre and is a puppetry advisor in health care and further education.

“We are so excited to have a residency at Fossekleiva Kultursenter, what an amazing opportunity, we will be playing with Ideas for a new production called ‘Nevermore’ based on the narrative poem ‘THE RAVEN’ by Edgar Allen Poe”

Chris Harte – musician
Chris has been working with Banyan Theatre over the last 20 years writing music for recorded productions and playing live shows.

Chris is primarily a bassist and has been playing in rock and blues bands for over 30 years. Chris is the bass/ vocalist in a Thin Lizzy Tribute band ‘Kings Call’ and over the years has supported and played with many big names including Hazel O’Connor, Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy), Mary Coughlan and Beverly Craven.

“Playing and writing music for puppetry is a challenge at times but it really pushes me creatively, great fun and it’s always an adventure”