Image: Image courtesy the artist.
Guildhouse is delighted to announce Adelaide-based multidisciplinary artist Claude Creighton as the 2025 recipient of the Catapult + Adelaide Fringe mentorship, awarded with the internationally renowned Erth Visual & Physical Inc.
This significant mentorship will see Claude working under the guidance of Steve Howarth, the creative force behind the company’s globally celebrated puppetry and visual theatre works.
Of the opportunity, Claude shares ‘This mentorship allows me to develop new puppet-making and experimental theatre skills through hands-on learning at Erth Visual & Physical in Greater Sydney. It supports the creation of Smoko, a performance featuring puppetry made in collaboration with a Territorian artist and enables me to bring new techniques back to WHEAT Collective to help grow South Australia’s puppetry sector. Without Guildhouse, this opportunity to learn, connect and expand my practice would not have been possible.’
Catapult mentorships offer creative professionals essential funding and support to develop their artistic practice through meaningful mentorship. They enable South Australian artists to undertake self-directed research, engage in professional development, and enhance their creative practices by collaborating with mentors locally, nationally, and internationally.
Beth Neate, Guildhouse CEO says ‘Catapult is about creating opportunities for artists to take bold steps in their practice. We are thrilled to partner with the Adelaide Fringe to support Claude in this mentorship with Erth, an organisation whose innovation and commitment to sustainability and storytelling align so powerfully with Claude’s vision.’
Andy Beecroft, Adelaide Fringe/Honey Pot, Marketplace Manager shares ‘We are delighted to partner with Guildhouse for a second year. The Catapult mentorship delivers such an important connection and outcomes driver, placing exceptional artists alongside seasoned and generous mentors. We can’t wait for our Adelaide Fringe audiences to see Claude’s work in the 2026 program.’
Catapult + Adelaide Fringe is presented in collaboration with Guildhouse and the Adelaide Fringe Foundation – Arts Unlimited.
Image: Image courtesy the artist.
Claude Creighton is a multidisciplinary artist based in Adelaide, working across sculpture, illustration, performance, and community engagement. They graduated with First Class Honours from the Adelaide Central School of Art, and their strong foundation in fine art continues to inform a tactile, hand-built aesthetic. Alongside their artistic practice, Claude works professionally as a tattooist, applying their skills in illustration and visual storytelling.
Claude’s introduction to performance emerged through installation and visual art, gradually evolving into a focus on puppetry and collaborative, narrative-driven work. They are the founder of WHEAT, a performance group dedicated to accessible, community-based storytelling that merges traditional techniques with experimental visual performance. Claude has led workshops and facilitated artistic development within educational and community contexts, collaborating with a range of esteemed cultural venues and organisations.
Their involvement in residencies and co-devised projects has deepened an ongoing interest in sustainability, regional touring, and puppetry as a tool for resistance and accessibility. Claude’s practice is increasingly centred on tactile making, folk art traditions, and the dynamic intersection of sculpture and movement.
Steve Howarth is a founding member of Erth Visual & Physical Inc and leads the development, design, and creation of most of the company’s productions and commissions. From Erth’s Sydney-based studio and workshop, he oversees a team of artists and makers in crafting the company’s distinctive puppets, sets, props, and costumes, many of which tour globally in productions such as Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo, Prehistoric Aquarium, and Prehistoric World.
With a background in visual arts and sculpture, Steve has guided the creation of lifelike dinosaurs, inflatable creatures, and imaginative worlds that fuse traditional fine arts with performance. Under his direction, Erth has delivered bespoke creations for cultural institutions and commercial clients both in Australia and internationally, with work adapted for audiences in Japan, China, France, Holland, and the Middle East. Steve is also dedicated to mentoring design students and supporting emerging artists in developing their craft.
Erth’s work is driven by a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, conservation, and social justice. Through immersive visual theatre, the company seeks to educate, inspire, and empower audiences of all ages. Today, Erth is globally recognised for its bold, innovative, and emotionally resonant productions for children and families.
