Picture via Puppets Up Facebook page
While most with a successful career would enjoy their retirement at 65, Noreen Young created Puppets Up, a festival celebrating the art of locals and international stars alike in Almonte that brought world acclaim. Area residents as well as countless thousands of those young at heart are mourning her passing at the age of 85.
She worked on the CBC puppet show, Hi Diddle Day and went on to produce the extremely popular children’s show Under the Umbrella Tree from 1987-1993. She portrayed one of the main characters Gloria Gopher. We spoke with long-time friend and Puppets Up collaborator, Jane Torrance about what Noreen’s passing means.
When Puppets Up, which began in 2005, was forced to take a break from 2018-2022 due to sponsorship shortages, Jane connected with Noreen to see if a rebirth was possible after the difficult COVID-19 pandemic.
Noreen, a member of the Order of Canada, created and animated puppets for a wide variety of children’s programming as well as to celebrate local people and friends. An appropriate commemoration of Noreen’s life and work can be found in the heart of Almonte as Jane explains.
The symbolism of an umbrella, offering inclusive protection to all is very appropriate to Noreen’s life and work. As the theme song to Under the Umbrella Tree reminds us; there’s no better place to be, in your imagination, you’ll find an invitation, under the umbrella tree.
story by Brian Turner