From Papay to puppets and a film premiere!

The Papay community has joined forces with a local artist to create an animated short film that raises awareness of worldwide environmental issues that are also impacting closer to home.

The first screening of the 12-minute film “Peedie Island” went ahead at the Papay School on Friday (23 June) when around 30 folk, including school children, gathered together to watch the end result.

The project has been a community effort, with residents voicing the characters and providing the narration, creating the music, and making the shadow puppets.

The story was informed by the natural environment around the island and the children’s learning and awareness of the decline in seabird numbers, threats of climate change, and the issues facing nature and wildlife on a worldwide level translated to the peedie island of Papay.

Papay resident and screenwriter, Anna-Lisa Jenaer, came up with the initial idea.

She said: “The project was inspired by the huge sailcloth banners hanging in the Kelp Store on Papa Westray. The banners depict the Tystie and the Flapper skate and were created by artist and Papay Ranger, Jonathan Ford, together with island residents.

“The school pupils were keen to highlight the fact that almost half our seabird species worldwide are in decline (Natural History Museum) a fact that can also be observed on our own peedie island.

“When I mentioned creating an animated film, Jonathan suggested working with artist Mary Grieve, based in Kirkwall. Mary specialises in creating beautifully animated films and puppet performances using puppets she has designed and made.”

Following a story writing workshop at Papay Community School, pupils Alexander Hourston (11) and Jakey Baker (10) came up with a great story about the Tystie struggling to find fish and how his friends the Orca and the Flapper Skate (or Barn Door Skate, as it is known in Orkney) come to the rescue.

Anna-Lisa continued: “We then held a scriptwriting workshop with the teenagers on the island and over the course of three session, the youngsters transformed the story into a screenplay.

“The next step was to create shadow puppets of the three main creatures in the film – as well as other creatures seen around the seas of Papay, including the Bonxie and the Pickie. The pupils and youngsters were guided in this process by Mary and spent several days hard at work drawing and cutting out silhouettes of the puppets.

“Some of the island residents also joined in and we quickly had a beautiful array of sea and land creatures and plants.

“With all the puppets made, it was time to animate them, moving them along a large paper screen. All the island youngsters took part in this process, from the peedie nursery pupils to the teenagers.

“The characters then needed to be voiced, and a number of island residents volunteered (with some gentle encouragement!) as actors, with Jonathan Ford recording the voices. We had a great time and discovered some fantastic voicing talent on the island!”

Island resident and RSPB Warden, James Wilson, together with the pupils at the school, created the music for the film, which he performed on his guitar. One final edit by Mary, and the film was ready for its premiere!

There will be a second screening of the film during the Papay Fun Weekend in July. The film will also be available online to view – more details will follow on this.

The project was funded by North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme, a £4.5m programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, Orkney Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NatureScot and the Orkney LEADER 2014-2020. It supports projects that promote the culture, heritage and landscape of the North Isles and will run until December 2024.