Midlife Mastery: Exploring New Horizons Through Puppetry and Crafts

Join host Emily Bron as she delves into the inspiring reinvention story of Alla Petrova. Discover how Alla’s unique background from working at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow to creating a puppet theater in Canada showcases the possibilities for personal growth and creativity after 50. Tune in for a lively conversation filled with actionable insights and uplifting anecdotes!

TIMESTAMPS:
01:08 Welcome to the Age of Reinvention
01:26 Meet Alla Petrova: A Journey of Creativity and Resilience
04:52 Alla’s Early Life and Career in Russia
07:16 Immigrating to Canada: New Beginnings
09:40 Discovering Puppetry: A New Passion
11:44 Challenges and Triumphs in Puppetry
19:44 Exploring Global Puppetry Traditions
22:46 The Importance of Continuous Learning
27:28 Finding Joy and Purpose in Midlife
34:06 Future Plans and Final Thoughts

Emily Bron: Hello, listeners and welcome back to the age of reinvention, redefine freedom and purpose at midlife. I’m Emily Bron, your guide through the twist and turns of middle age. Today, we are chatting with Alla Petrova, a shining example of what is possible in retirement or in life after 50. Also, Alla’s immigration story seems similar to others.

It is unique due to her professional background, working in the past in the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, her creativity in making her own life and the lives of others more exciting and playful. By her bold decision to create a puppeteer’s theater from the puppet dolls she’s creating herself.

Alla arrived in Canada alone with a small child and has reshaped her career, taking up new skills and hobbies, and continued to improve old ones. Impressive is that after turning 50, Alla started making dolls. masks and puppets. She created her own puppet theater from this hobby while taking storytelling and acting theater training from Toronto International Professionals, and was even traveling to similar retreat places abroad.

She also began teaching children handicrafts. So Alla launched a new life chapter and created a dynamic, creative, and purpose driven life filled with joy and fulfillment. Puppet Theatre, under the name Puppets4U, is well known in the Toronto Russian speaking community, and many children are waiting for the new performances with Alla’s storytelling and dolls.

Alla’s journey powerfully remind us that midlife is not a time for stagnation, but a time of immense potential for personal growth, creativity, and exploration. Join us as we delve into how Alla reinvent herself, continuously learning and evolving along the way. Hello, Alla. I’m happy to see you in my online studio.

And even I know you for years, I’m still have a lot of questions to you, and I hope that we will have interesting conversation for everyone listening to us now.

Alla Petrova: Hi, Emily. Nice to see you today. And I am ready to answer all your questions.

Emily Bron: Excellent. First of all, we are starting from the roots, from the, beginning.

Please share a little bit about your personal journey and the pivotal moment which led you to where you are today. I know about your storytelling skills, but I will ask you several questions along the road. Let’s start from your childhood.

Alla Petrova: Okay I’m actually from Russia. I was born in Moscow and grow up and all my life I lived there.

Most of my childhood, I spent with my grandma and grand dad because my mom was working full time. My grandparents lived in In the center of Moscow I still have friends from my from my class. And spending time in the center of Moscow just between buildings, places, yeah, theaters around, yeah it’s make my life. My granddad he’s a fur maker. And he got his occupation by the, as a family tradition. So I didn’t pay attention much for this.

I just grow with him. But when I was finishing school, I didn’t have questions where to go. I know what I want to do. I love to sew and I’d like to continue this way, this role. That’s why I went to learn fashion designer occupation. And it’s happened that I learned at night school.

If you learning at night you have to work in the daytime and that’s probably you most interested about my first job became to be is a master of the theatrical costume uh, for women. And uh, I did it in the Bolshoi theater.

Emily Bron: So even without, before graduating a fashion design school, you were accepted to Bolshoi theater to work with the costumes.

I’m surprised.

Alla Petrova: No, it’s not a surprise because I was taken as as a apprentice, so I wasn’t a master. I work with the master. I I had my own master and I learned everything from her, from this lady. And all of us go from school and we worked there and studied in the different schools at that time.

Emily Bron: Yeah, because I know that Russian theatrical tradition of making costumes, it’s art by itself.

Alla Petrova: But let’s,

but nobody born as a big artist, all of us have to study and grow.

Emily Bron: Sure. So let’s jump to the point when you decided to immigrate from Russia to Canada.

Alla Petrova: Yes, it’s a story of many people.

I make the decision when I already have a daughter and I was scared to leave her alone outside. So yes, I’d like to be, to live in a more constant safe place. And that’s why we decided my family decided to immigrate to Canada.

Emily Bron: You were very active in creating new costumes. But, it’s still far away from what you do now. And I know that over years living in Toronto you were working as a graphic designer, I believe, yes?

Alla Petrova: The dressmaker, it was my first occupation. When I graduated fashion school, I became a fashion designer. And many years I am working back in Russia as a fashion designer as well as a craft teacher when my daughter growing up. But when I came to Toronto and looking, started looking for a job I go back to my dressmaking skills.

It was surprising for me. That my hands didn’t forget anything. When I were interviewing in a in a first company, it was a kids cloth company. They accepted me to the design department. And I working a little bit not for a long time for the kids cloth company in designer department.

And after that, I work not long in a wedding dress. Company. When I realized that wedding dress building cutting and making very close to theater costume. Yes. And after that, I go to study. I came to Canada with zero computer skills. Zero. So I start to learn computer and some design programs.

And after graduating this three month school, I found my graphic design occupation, and working in the first company for 20 years.

Emily Bron: So how did you come up with the idea of creating a puppet theater? I understand it was a long wait until it became theater or saying different words. How did you become a puppeteer and actually created theater puppets for you?

Alla Petrova: Because I started to work as a graphic designer and and continue and improving my computer skills during years. I didn’t do anything by my hands and my hands. How to say my, my hands, got tired not to do anything.

Emily Bron: It’s actually like many people these days. We forget our skills of small motoric skills.

Alla Petrova: So when I get some chances, so somebody asked me to do some costume or to show something, I feel so much joy. I can work nights through without any tiring. So I know that I want to add to my computer skills something what I know how to do. And because I always teach kids crafting. We made dolls. We made some other embroidery skills something. I thought about what I want to do. And I decided that puppet theater is a matching to my interest, and I’d like to try. So first of all, I tried to make some puppets and to do some plays and shows, performances and that time I realized that not everything’s so easy and clear how it seems to be.

Emily Bron: Yeah, I was a little bit surprised when you started that it’s easy and sometimes we think that it’s easy and the long we and all the way to the mastery, it actually takes time. So what was the, challenge along the way, and I understand you are still taking courses and learning.

And what was the most significant challenge on this road and how you overcome it?

Alla Petrova: So my first performances were in the synagogue and there are some kids who helped me to do performances and it looks like easy and just when you. Try to do you understand all troubles in the way and one day but we were taken very very much acceptable.

So public loved us. Yeah, they waiting for us. They always asking you when is the next performance? And kids like it first time, but after that they became busy like all kids. So my performance and shows, it was some extra for them and they supposed to spend some time to to learn how to do it, but they didn’t have.

And not, Everybody likes it the same way like me. So I wasn’t satisfied with the results. It was the first one.

Emily Bron: So it was class? I’m trying to understand. It was your class for children or just performance?

Alla Petrova: No. First of all, it wasn’t a class. I just came to synagogue and asked who wants to help me. And they were a group of girls so we rehearse time to time when they have a free time. And after that, in the holidays we

Emily Bron: made a show.

And actually it’s a lot of roles I understand you are creating scenario, you’re working actually on creating the dolls, and my separate question will be about materials what do you use for these dolls?

You need to, to have drafts and actually as producer to, to create the story and performance on the scene. Correct? Like how long is this all process say for one story that you created? Like it’s a couple of months?

Alla Petrova: Theater, it’s the endless you can call different things what we need for the theater.

And it depends what do you want to do? If you want to do the masterpiece, you have to work long and learn everything. But if you want to try, you can try just be the you

know, the empty plastic bag. You can take the empty plastic bag, just make like a face, like a head, and it’s so nice to see you! Hi Emily, hi!

Emily Bron: So actually you do your dolls all from nothing or from whatever is found around you?

Alla Petrova: Of course, I did it from nothing. And if you remember what I mentioned, our first Halloween costume.

Your daughter just came to me and said today is a Halloween and I’d like to go trick and treat and yeah, but I cannot do it alone. Your daughter saw mine, promised to be, but she wasn’t. So you and me decided to go. And my room was just empty. We just arrived. It was nothing to do anything.

And I took the empty plastic bag. I took just empty X Box. And I made some costume and I didn’t know what bag we supposed to take. I have no idea. I took a huge black plastic bag and we went outside. I remember very clear. You had a very colorful shawl and I didn’t have anything and everybody opened doors for us and said, Oh, it’s so creative.

Emily Bron: Maybe they knew that we are new immigrants and we are using whatever we have at home.

Alla Petrova: No English, nothing. Yeah, we got a lot of sweets.

Emily Bron: So it’s, I know that you’re very creative. I know that just to be clear, you’re creating now dolls, not from the bags, but from textiles and different materials.

Alla Petrova: Yeah. Yes, that’s true. I prefer to use textiles. So actually, puppets could be made from any kind of materials. I use something which I don’t need at home. Old dresses, old stuffing I can use old old toys everything what you don’t need. It is a different life now. You can buy everything and use it. But if you don’t, just use what you have. It is a direction of the styles which called trash to treasure.

Emily Bron: Oh, now it’s a terminology, trash to treasure.

And actually it’s, you create treasure from kind of nothing, from leftovers. And I was always amazed how you can find something valuable in trash.

Alla Petrova: Okay. I’m always surprised. So sometimes it’s happened. Sometimes it doesn’t. So you never know.

. I took a few dolls to show.

Alla Petrova: So this one actually was my first one. Later on when I started studying at school and. This is my first baby. Yeah. Hello. Nice

Emily Bron: to see

Alla Petrova: you,

Emily Bron: Emily. Okay. Hello. And I’m sorry for some of you who cannot see this lady. But tell us please, what is the difference between marionette and puppets, which I sometimes mixed up.

Alla Petrova: Okay. There are so many different kinds of puppets. You couldn’t believe even I don’t know everything, but the standard the classic one that everybody knows is a hand puppets, which you put on hand. I don’t. Yeah. And Marianette, what you’re asking there are puppets on the strings. I have couple they have, they could have many strings.

Okay, I just took this one away. They could make they could have many strings. But mine, Indian one, it’s not my own, there are gifts. They have Just just a few,

just a few, just.

Emily Bron: So it’s a different traditions, because I know Japanese traditions, yeah, of dolls. It’s Indian,

Alla Petrova: yeah? Yeah it’s Indian, yeah.

He has few strings, but he is marionette, because He’s manipulating by strings. I have a couple more, but most puppets what I use not marionettes. It is a special skill, which I didn’t learn much.

Emily Bron: No, it’s your secret.

Alla Petrova: I understand it. No, it’s not my secret. I just don’t have this kind of skills.

I can make this puppet, but it’s hard to manipulate.

Emily Bron: I see. I see.

Alla Petrova: Yeah, and this the puppet which I show first, her name is Maggie. Yeah, this kind of puppet is a Muppet. She manipulated by using mouth, open and closed. Yeah, this kind of puppets new because first one first one was created in 1950s by Jim Hansen in U.

S. It is very popular. Popular in America and not so much in Europe. I learned these puppets just here in Canada. I didn’t know about them before.

Emily Bron: But I actually know that you traveled several times and you will speak about it maybe later to different places to learn different puppet traditions.

If I’m not mistaken to Prague because they’ve had marionette theater and to other places. And even this year when I was in Bulgaria and walking in Varna street and I’ve seen, oh, it’s puppet theater. The first idea it was written on the street and this direction. I thought about you because I know you visiting different places and you learning from different traditions of making dolls.

Correct?

Alla Petrova: Not exactly. There are differences to travel and to learn. So learn about puppets to learn about puppets, I have to go to school, to puppetry school, or to puppetry workshops, or to something. And what I’m doing when I’m traveling, I just looking for the places. It’s not very easy to find.

If you are lucky, you can find it, but it’s not very easy to find, it’s not so popular like something else, and if you’re lucky you can find something, if you’re not, you couldn’t. For example I travel to Spain. I watched the special film, which was made for Puppets Festival and it was made in Spain and showing like puppet in each corner.

In each corner we have different kind of something store marionette place or something. I went to Spain for sure. I can find it, but just had a dress in my hands. I couldn’t find anyone. So it was the summertime, somewhere, some theaters were in travel and doors were closed. I didn’t find anything.

Emily Bron: But I remember you were going to the Valencia to this famous festival.

Alla Petrova: Oh, mixed it up. Okay, last year in Prague. Yeah, Prague is a puppet’s place. It is. There are many theaters. All of them were under constructions, closed, not working something. They have shops, they have museums. I have friends there who found the very nice exhibitions and took me there, but not much.

And this year, this current summer, I went to Portugal and I just go specifically to marionette museums. And now I found people there and I made them friends. So now there I have friends, sometimes we chatting share ideas.

Emily Bron: That’s why we’re exploring. That’s why we are learning. And my next question, how important actually it’s been for you to explore new activities other than puppetry. And could you share one or two as it have brought joy into your life recently? Because aside puppetry, I know that you were taking some courses, workshops, something about singing, something about theater. Please tell us

Alla Petrova: more. Everything about puppet theater always goes to the puppet theater. Just in a way, I realized that I’m missing some skills. I go and learn. So first of all, it was the decision to go to the School of Puppetry because I was searching around and didn’t find anything else except one Toronto School of Puppetry.

It’s the name of the place. But they created course just once in a year. It was for a few weeks, so I had to take some time off of work because it was intensive, full time, and it was expensive. And first of all, Because I didn’t think about puppetry so seriously. I didn’t want to spend much money for that.

And I didn’t have it. But when I already tried. And decide and understood it is a full wall. I cannot go through. I it is my limit. I have to do something with that. I went to the school. It was the perfect. It was the greatest decision which I made. I learned so much for this days and weeks and it’s open sky for me new horizons.

Yes. I see different I understood like you, you were asking me, I understood how many kinds of puppets exist in the world. And Actually, many things which use not alive subjects in the shows and in the performances, it is a puppetry. And puppet could be not just a doll like a doll, but it could be a box, a bottle, or some not alive object at all.

This kind of puppetry called objects puppetry.

Emily Bron: Oh, it’s something modern. I understand. And I understand that every culture actually offering their own traditions, probably some of one ancient and some of them modernized. But with all this, you created your own style, I believe, because I’ve seen your dolls, puppets.

First of all, they are different from different probably techniques that you learn, different size. And and first of all, I believe you can not know and be professional, like in all these techniques because, and, but you’re learning them in order to create your own.

Alla Petrova: Yes, because for me, it is a hobby. Uh, And I like to try different things.

I still make different puppets, actually different shows has different puppets. And because I’m curious, I always try, which is working for me. It could be different, but it’s working for me. I can use them. I can play with them. And your other questions.

Yes. You ask different skills that during the puppeteering, I learned that I need skills to play in a stage and I go and learn theatrical skills. Because I understand that I couldn’t live without that. I have to learn a lot and it’s never enough. It’s different kind of performing too. It’s different.

Emily Bron: So I understand that from each training you’re taking and you continue to do it, you adopt some elements or maybe some ideas that you get along the training.

You try to implement to your next show or maybe upgrade your current one.

Alla Petrova: Yeah, of course. That’s why I go to class. And sometimes I just bring to class what I already learned before, what I already know.

Emily Bron: Looking at the big picture. And speaking about your decisions at different, points of life after 50.

Can you describe some moments or experience that significantly changed your perspective on living a fulfilling life and midlife? When you decided to I need to do something. I know that you were always curious person, you like art, theater, but it was some trigger which probably turn your attention and your attention again To this decision.

Alla Petrova: Fortunately, it’s happened just exactly when I get 50. It’s happened suddenly all together. But the trigger was that my daughter is grown up. and started her own life. She getting out of my life to her own. And in my life, it became the so big, empty hole which I couldn’t live with.

I have to fill it up with something. And at that time, I just, thinking and make a decision about Puppet Theatre and it started to grow.

Emily Bron: So there are ways, actually creative ways to fill in your internal emptiness. And actually many people after fifties coming to the similar stage there is even kind of official name empty nesters when children are flying away and you’re still have enough energy and experience, life experience and you at this point thinking what to do next and great that you’ve had these hobbies and skills actually, and you working towards it to create something new that you enjoying and actually you bring joy to others.

And now I know that you’ve had some fantastic adventures during your travel experiences. And it is also, side of your activities in addition to puppetry. Could you share maybe what this travel lessons taught you or how it’s complementing to your life after 50?

Alla Petrova: Travel is always nice. Each trip just gives more ideas, memory, experiences. I understand that It’s not for everybody because everybody has their own feelings and brave or not.

And because I have this main idea in my head, like puppetry, I just follow and where I am getting sometimes, but my last previous workshop was the clown workshop, how I get to the clown workshop, I just decided to try.

Emily Bron: So maybe it will be your next reinvention?

Alla Petrova: No, because clowning is very related to to puppetry, because clowns work our puppetry is, we can call it our props, something, we hold it in hands, but clowns working without it, it’s much harder.

Yeah I decided to try the skills. Because my puppeteering is not when I am hiding behind the screen. I am with the puppet. It’s a different kind. It’s also more new style. So I have to play. That’s why I need acting. I have to Interact audience that’s why I need clowning.

I need storytelling skills that I was also learned. And I think it’s important to follow intuition to go. What you like to do. Just listen.

Your insights and don’t be scared. Just go and try and don’t do it if you don’t like.

Emily Bron: So it’s your recipe for the happy, fulfilling life at this stage.

Alla Petrova: Learn a lot. different things. If you just feel like kind, like it, just try it, just learn.

And just after that, you can understand, do you like it or not? And if you have many. You have a choice. What you want to learn deeper, continue to do it, or you don’t like and Don’t wait. Don’t waste your time. Time is limited.

So just go and do it.

Emily Bron: At the age of reinvention, we believe in finding joy in the everyday. How do you incorporate this philosophy in your daily life and work?

Alla Petrova: I couldn’t say that just puppetry is my goal.

No, my joy is family. Most of the time. The idea deep inside was I’m going to do it. My family sometime. I may be get a grandchild. My child is grow up, but Probably I get something else, the grandchild and I have now. Yes. And actually he likes it, but not so much like me, , I know it for sure. But I’m doing as much as I can. This is a joy. My joy. It’s not a recipe for everybody, but my joy thinking about what I gonna do next. I have my puppet, for example, dance. How I can make him dance.

.So you have to keep in mind what kind of dance. What kind of stage I gonna have for this performance. Is it on the floor or it is a higher or it is a totally covered.

And that dance is depending.

Of my stage two. So there are many different things, but yes, solving problems exploring new materials, exploring new styles different kind of puppetry we didn’t talk about it, but it’s very interesting. Part of puppetry like shadow puppetry, and. have my next workshop in the shadow one.

It’s very interesting.

Emily Bron: Can you learn these days from YouTube actually? Like a lot of techniques and maybe classes even?

Alla Petrova: Yes. Virtual study. Yes, of course.

Emily Bron: Okay. So as you look to the future, Are there any goals or dreams you are particularly excited about pursuing next, other than shadow theater?

Something else on your list to do?

Alla Petrova: I have some ideas and I actually have some people who is who I was sharing this idea with. Because we talk about that theater and puppet theater as well has many different skills to involve in one performance. I’d like to make this the project which combined.

People with different skills if you need dance, I don’t want to dance. I want somebody to dance or learn puppet to dance. If we need music, somebody create music for this show. If we need singing, some people who can sing for them. So it’s going to be um, multi genre project. But the main idea is going to be a fairy tale, as I usually use with puppets.

Emily Bron: Interesting. And I hope you will it will be some announcements in our community and actually in Toronto. I know that many people in Toronto know you, not only in our Russian speaking community. And I’m really happy to see and observe, actually, your Constant reinvention and work and study and traveling and actually enjoying your life.

And I believe even you, maybe, it seems to me that you happier now comparing this time when you were just arriving to Canada, as I remember you.

Alla Petrova: Different periods of time, and I try to enjoy every moment. I don’t want to live sad life. Always when I have something sad, I have to think about something happy.

Emily Bron: Absolutely. I think it’s a recipe that we all need to work on. And so what message do you want to share with others who are navigating midlife and seeking to reinvent themselves whether by finding new purpose? Adopting new lifestyle or embarking on the new adventures. I know that you already shared some, tips and advices, but many people in this age and even younger, they suddenly get the time, kind of me time or this, retirement and they don’t know what.

to do with the suddenly received free time. What you would tell to them?

I

Alla Petrova: had some Chinese friend who was a little older than me, and he told me, I’m going to retire soon. I have to learn how to do it. Step by step. You don’t know yet. It’s hard. So I am learning it now. I go to dance. I go to, to sing.

I go to do different things, which I never did in my life. So when I will retire. I already know what I want to do. So try new things. This is my advice. Try new things. Don’t be scary. Use some sports. It always works. Painting. Anyway, who likes what he likes, just try it. But just from my own side of view, Use the handwork.

It’s a very helpful skills, very useful skills. It’s very useful for kids because when they do something with the hands, with the fingers it It improves their mind, their brain, but it also works for adult people, for people in our age. It makes your memory work. It’s help you to see new goals , new ways to do new community circle.

New, just involve new people in your life just simple hand craft work.

Emily Bron: Thank you. I understand it’s your recipe and it’s proven recipe. Okay. Because. It works for you, it works for people who actually trying to learn new skills. And you’re teaching handicraft, correct?

I’m teaching handicraft.

Alla Petrova: I’m teaching kids it’s not my full-time job. But also you you ask about my plans. Yeah. this kind of project, what I talk about. Yes. And other one to make puppet theater for seniors. Yes. It’s another, my idea.

Emily Bron: Oh, do you want to involve seniors or just different stories for senior?

Alla Petrova: Yes, exactly. So seniors, I saw this project in Portugal. So that’s why I get the idea. Just people would be the limited with limited my abilities and skills they can use the puppets which already made for them and using them telling their stories.

Emily Bron: Very interesting. Look I’m excited for you for this project and actually this project, it’s might be endless because, different people, different stories, and I believe that you fully equipped. All ready to work with seniors and with dolls, and it will make a life of seniors better. And I commend you on your plans. Thank you very much for being with us today. Alla. And I wish you very success and each of your projects already in your head and the future ones that I believe will be in some time.

I was enjoying our conversation, so I hope others will do the same.

Alla Petrova: Thank you for the conversation.

Emily Bron: That wraps up our conversation with Alla Petrova. Life discoveries and learning don’t stop as we age. They open up new paths we might never have imagined. If you enjoyed this YouTube channel.

Consider subscribing or following us to stay updated on our latest conversations. Thanks for listening to Age of Reinvention. Today’s episode has inspired you to look at your own path with fresh eyes, I believe. Maybe there is something new you’ve been wanting to try or change you have been hesitating to make.

Maybe. With that in mind, we invite you to share your personal stories of reinvention or start a conversation with us on social media. We love hearing how you are choosing to redefine this exciting phase of life until next time. I’m Emily Bron reminding you that the possibilities extend as far as we are willing to explore them in midlife.

Keep reinventing, keep pushing forward and remember growth doesn’t have an age limit.

Alla Petrova

originally from Moscow, is a skilled puppeteer, fashion designer, and teacher. She studied fashion design while working at the Bolshoi Theatre Workshops, where she became a master of theatrical costume making. After moving to Canada, Alla’s interest in puppetry grew, and she trained at the Toronto School of Puppetry, Humpty Dumpty Theater, and other specialized programs. She now creates puppet performances based on global fairy tales, emphasizing positive endings, and shares her knowledge through workshops on doll and mask making. Alla is passionate about the development of fine motor skills in children through needlework and aims to engage the older generation in puppetry as a way to slow the aging process.

In this article, we delve into the transformative journey of Alla Petrova, a remarkable woman who redefined her life post-50. From her roots as the costume creator for the artists of Bolshoi Theater in Moscow to creating a vibrant puppet theatre in Toronto, Alla’s story epitomizes the endless potential for creativity and growth in midlife.

From Russia to Canada: A Journey of Resilience and Determination

Alla Petrova’s journey begins in Moscow, where she was born and raised. Her early years were deeply influenced by her grandparents, who lived in the city’s cultural heart, surrounded by theatres and artistic endeavours. This vibrant environment naturally led Alla to pursue a career in fashion design, and she soon found herself working at the prestigious Bolshoi Theater as an apprentice in theatrical costume design.

Despite her success in Moscow, Alla boldly decided to immigrate to Canada with her young daughter, seeking a safer and more stable life. This move began a new chapter filled with challenges, growth, and reinvention.

Finding New Passions in a New Land

Upon arriving in Toronto, Alla navigated various roles, from dressmaking to graphic design. Remarkably, after turning 50, Alla discovered a new passion—making dolls, masks, and puppets. This hobby blossomed into a creative endeavour, leading her to establish her puppet theatre, Puppets4U, which became a beloved fixture in the Toronto Russian-speaking community.

Creating Puppets and Teaching Craftsmanship

Alla’s puppet theatre wasn’t just about performances; it was a testament to her ability to turn everyday materials into artistic treasures. Using textiles, old dresses, and even discarded items, she embraced the “trash to treasure” philosophy, creating puppets that captivated audiences. Her innovative approach and dedication to craftsmanship breathed life into her performances, engaging children and adults alike.

Puppet Theater: A Labor of Love and Creativity

Building a puppet theatre from scratch was no small feat. Alla’s journey involved mastering storytelling, acting, and even teaching children handicrafts. Her performances, initially collaborations with eager volunteers, quickly gained popularity. Despite finding committed participants, Alla’s passion for her craft remained strong despite the challenges.

Exploring the World of Puppetry

Alla’s dedication to puppetry led her to explore different traditions and techniques worldwide. Her travels took her to places like Prague and Portugal, where she connected with fellow puppeteers, discovered new methods, and formed lasting friendships. Each experience enriched her skills and broadened her creative horizons.

The Importance of Continuous Learning

Throughout her journey, Alla emphasized the importance of continuous learning. Her foray into puppetry was complemented by studying theatrical skills, clowning, and storytelling. She understood that these diverse abilities contributed to her overall mastery and allowed her to create more dynamic and engaging performances.

A Message for Midlife Reinvention

Alla’s story powerfully reminds us that midlife is a time for exploration and growth. Her advice to others navigating this phase is simple: try new things, listen to your intuition, and don’t be afraid to learn. Whether it’s discovering a new hobby, embracing a creative pursuit, or simply following a long-held passion, midlife offers endless opportunities for reinvention.

Conclusion:

Alla Petrova’s journey from the Bolshoi Theater to creating a cherished puppet theatre in Toronto is a testament to the transformative power of pursuing one’s passions. Her story inspires us to view midlife as a period of immense potential and creativity. As Alla has shown, growth truly has no age limit.

If Alla’s story has inspired you to embrace your own journey of reinvention, we invite you to share your experiences with us and become part of our community of explorers. Let’s redefine what it means to live a fulfilling and dynamic life at any age.