professional circus artists and puppeteers:
Ana Lorite
Ana is the co-creator of Naranjarte. Ana makes all the exquisite hand-crafted puppets in Naranjarte’s shows. Ana is a professional puppeteer with a Master’s level Diploma in Puppetry (UK), and she completed her Drama studies in ‘Cuarta Pared School’, Madrid, Spain. She has a Bachelors in Teaching (Primary Education) with honors. Ana is also a qualified and registered teacher in NZ. Ana is the puppeteer of “Wonderkind”, by Wonderlight Theatre Aotearoa, and performed at Circa Theatre (2022), and also at Capital E National Arts Festival “Bite-Size Treats” (2023). Ana is the official NZ representative for UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionette) founded in 1929 and recognized by UNESCO.
Sergio Aguilar
Sergio is the co-creator of Naranjarte. Sergio’s specialist skills include clowning, contact juggling, poi, stick, diabolo and buugeng (a combination of the Japanese words for ‘martial arts’ and ‘illusion’). Sergio completed his training in Circus Studies, at ‘Carampa Circus School’, Madrid, Spain. Sergio is the juggler for “Wonderkind”, by Wonderlight Theatre Aotearoa, and performed at Capital E National Arts Festival “Bite-Size Treats” (2023).
Naranjarte, formed by Ana Lorite and Sergio Aguilar in 2011, is a Spanish company that mixes the arts of puppetry and circus, offering a unique theatre format. After developing their careers as performers and educators in Europe, they embarked on a new adventure… From September 2017 to January 2020, they developed a world tour and an educational project: “Puppets and circus: a trip around the world’s schools”. They visited more than 20 schools in 14 different countries, performed over 200 shows, and interviewed over 80 international teachers and puppeteers as part of their research. In 2018 they arrived in Aotearoa/NZ for the first time and fell in love with the country. They returned to make a life here in January 2020, to continue sharing their passion and skills, and to develop their artistic careers in their chosen home.
Step into the magical realm of Naranjarte, an extraordinary Spanish company founded by the visionary artists Ana Lorite and Sergio Aguilar in 2011. Naranjarte’s performances are not merely shows; they are immersive journeys that challenge perceptions and transport audiences to realms of wonder and delight.
Since 2020, Ana & Sergio have made New Zealand their cherished base, settling down and immersing themselves in the vibrant arts community. They have been actively engaged in various creative endeavours, including leading workshops funded by the Creative Communities Scheme, captivating audiences with their performances in diverse venues, like Circa Theatre (2022) and Te Papa museum in Wellington (2023), in collaboration with Wonderlight Theatre Aotearoa. They also developed the program “Puppets & Pāniora,” which took place during term 3 of 2023 at Te Kura o Te Koutu in Rotorua. This project was supported by the Creatives in Schools Program, and they have already developed 5 workshops about Puppetry and Circus in the Waikato region, showcasing the duo’s commitment to sharing their artistic talents and skills with ākonga around Aotearoa/ NZ.
Track record of experience and success:
2017 – 2020: Traveling the world and performing more than 200 shows in different venues and festivals while developing their project “Puppetry and circus: a trip around the world’s schools“
Shows:
2024: Wellington Puppetry
Festival. (NZ). Show: “The Bell”
2024: Latin Spring Festival
(NZ). Show: “The Bell”
2024: Hamilton Arts
Festival. (HLZ, NZ). Show: “Paco” walkabout + “The Bell”
2024: Tauranga Fringe Fest. (Tauranga, NZ). Show: “Paco” walkabout.
2024: Waihi Street Arts Festival (Hamilton, NZ). Show: “Paco” walkabout + “The Bell”.
2023: Festival of Weird (Hamilton, NZ). Show: “Paco” walkabout.
2022: Waikato Latin
Spring Festival (Hamilton, NZ). Show: “The Bell”.
2021: Whiti Fest (Whitianga NZ). Show: “The Bell”.
2019: 6th International Puppet Festival in Quanzhou (China). Show: “The Bell”.
2018: Dunedin Fringe Festival (Dunedin, NZ). Show: “The Bell”.
2018: Illawarra Folk Festival (Australia). Show: “The Bell”.
2017: TitiriUva 2017 (Segovia, Spain). Show: “Puppet Cabaret 2.0”.
2016: Estampes Festival International des marionnettes – (Poêt Laval, France). Show: “Puppet Cabaret 2.0”.
2016: Jetlag Festival ADM (Amsterdam, NL). Show: “Puppet Cabaret 2.0”.
2016: Bisóntere, Festival Internacional de Títeres de Santillana del mar (Santander, Spain). Show: “Puppet Cabaret 2.0”.
2016: World Puppet Festival (Donostia / San Sebastián, Spain). Show: “Puppet Cabaret 2.0” Program.
2016: World Puppet Festival – Donostia / San Sebastián. Show: “Puppet Cabaret 2.0” Program.
2016: Titirimundi (Segovia, Spain). Show: “Puppet Cabaret 2.0”.
2016: Festival Internacional de Títeres de Redondela (Galicia, Spain): Show: “Puppet Cabaret 2.0”.
2016: FUHEM Montserrat School (Madrid, Spain). Night Show Project “Fears” – Pre-school.
2015: Tapapiés 2015 (Madrid, Spain) Show: “Puppet Cabaret”.
2015: Skipton Puppet Festival, London School of Puppetry tent.
Show: “The little clown” and “Flamenco Granny”.
2015: Barrio de Las Letras. Estación 21.(Madrid, Spain) Show: “The Bell”.
2015: Montserrat School (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Nit & Larry” (in English).
2014: Tapapiés, Lavapiés (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Oh Man!”.
2014: Reggaeboa Festival Valle de Balboa (León). Show in concert with Blueskank & Tasty Grooves. Show: “The Bell”.
2014: Conka Street (Cuenca, Spain). Show: “The Bell”.
2014: Festival Internacional de títeres Titirimundi (Segovia, Spain). Show: “The Bell”.
2014: “La Inquilina” Lavapiés (Madrid, Spain). Show: “El dado decide”.
2014: FNAC Castellana (Madrid, Spain) Naranjarte con Mamá tiene un plan. Show: “El dado decide”.
2014: “La Inquilina” Lavapiés (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Magical Encounters”.
2013: Espacio Labruc (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Nit & Larry”.
2013: Tapapiés, Lavapiés (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Magical Encounters”.
2013: Skipton Puppet Festival (UK). Show: “Magical Encounters”.
2013: Organic Roots Festival, Tres Cantos (Madrid, Spain). Show in concert with The Bandits Roots
2013: FNAC Majadahonda (Madrid, Spain). Mamá tiene un plan. Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2013: FNAC Castellana (Madrid, Spain). Mamá tiene un plan. Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2013: Reggaeboa Festival Valle de Balboa (León, Spain). Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2013: San Fermines (Pamplona, Spain). Show: Contact Juggling (Clasic circus Routine)
2013: LASEDE COAM (Madrid, Spain). Show: Contact Juggling (Clasic circus Routine)
2013: “La Noche Mágica de Balboa” Valle de Balboa (León, Spain). Show: “El dado decide”.
2013: Festival de Circo de La Bisbal d’Emporda (Girona, Spain). Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2013: Festival Internacional de Títeres de Redondela. (Galicia, Spain) Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2013: Local Reverb (Madrid, Spain). Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2013: Micro Teatro Por Dinero (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Despis y el sueño mágico”.
2012: Sala Caracol (Madrid, Spain). Show in Concert with Swingdigentes.
2012: Feria Dabadum, IFEMA (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Nit & Larry”.
2012: “La Central” (Madrid, Spain). Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2012: Fiestas de Lalín (Pontevedra, Spain). Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2012: Centro Comercial Alaxe (Vigo, Spain). Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2012: Centro Cultural “La Caja del Arte” (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Lorenzo, la Bailarina y el Mago”.
2012: Festival Internacional de Títeres de Redondela, XIII (Galicia, Spain). Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2012: Festival Internacional de títeres Titirimundi (Segovia, Spain). Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2012: Micro Teatro Por Dinero, (Burgos, Spain). Show: “La Increible Historia Circense de Nit y Larry”.
2012: Micro Teatro Por Dinero, (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Nit & Larry”.
2011: Micro Teatro Por Dinero, (Madrid, Spain). Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2011: Micro Teatro Por Dinero, (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Deseo, deseo, deseo…”.
2011: Sala Reciclaje (Madrid, Spain). Colab. Visual en Concierto The Bandits Roots y The Rus Blues Band.
2011: Sala Clamores (Madrid, Spain). Colab. en Presentación de Disco The Rus Blues Band.
2011: Micro Teatro Por Dinero, (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Camino a Circolandia”.
2011: Festival de Música Operacion Bolos (Madrid, Spain). Show: “La aventura Mágica de Madera”.
2011: Fringe Festival en Royal Mile y Mound Pitch (Edimburgo). Show: “The Magic Wooden Adventure”.
2011: Fiestas de Lavapiés en La Boca Espacio de Cultura (Madrid, Spain). Show: “Loren y el Mago”.
Lectures:
2019: Quanzhou International Puppet Festival (China). Conference: “Puppetry and Circus: a trip around the world’s schools“.
2019: Pepe Otal Workshop (Barcelona, España). Conference: “Puppetry and Circus: a trip around the world’s schools“.
2019: Espacio Interactivo Memoria y Futuro “Pipiripi” (La Paz, Bolivia). Conference: “Puppetry and Circus: a trip around the world’s schools“.
2018: Victoria University of Wellington (Wellington, New Zealand). Conference: “Puppetry and Circus: a trip around the world’s schools“.
2018: Trash Puppets (Melbourne, Australia). Conference: “Puppetry and Circus: a trip around the world’s schools”.
2017: Papermoon Theatre (Java, Indonesia). Conference: “Puppetry and Circus: a trip around the world’s schools”.
2016: Segovia UVA (Spain). Conference: “Puppetry in education”.
2016: Madrid Congress (Spain). Conference: “Learning
through play“.
Workshops:
2024: Matangi Hall (Hamilton, NZ) Workshop: Puppet Theatre. Funded by Creative Communities S. Waikato.
2023: Matangi Hall (Hamilton, NZ) Workshop: Juggling & Clowning. Funded by Creative Communities S. Waikato.
2023: Karangahake Hall (Hauraki, NZ). Workshop: Puppet Theatre. Funded by Creative Communities S. Hauraki.
2023: Hamilton Library (Hamilton, NZ). Workshop: Puppets & Shadows . Funded by Creative Communities S. Hamilton.
2023: Karangahake Hall (Hauraki, NZ). Workshop: Juggling & Clowning in Funded by Creative Communities S. Hauraki.
2016: UNIMA Summer School. (Segovia, Spain) “Puppetry in preschool and primary education”.
2014: Monserrat School, (Madrid, Spain). Teacher training course: “Puppetry in language Teaching”.
2013: Organic Roots Festival, (Madrid, Spain). Workshop: “Contact Juggling”.