James Retter Duncan

Currently joining the cast of King Kong.

James is a classically trained actor (Ryerson Theatre School) dedicated to all aspects of movement, puppetry, motion capture, live skins, suits and creature movement. He began his stage career at the Stratford Festival of Canada. James was a lead in Theatre Direct's "I met a bully on a hill" (Lynda Hill) nominated for a DORA award and he also won the coveted audience choice award at the nationally acclaimed Toronto Fringe Festival in the same year. (Napoleon vs. the Turk)

James has been a head puppeteer (Joey, Topthorn, goose) in 3 different productions of WAR HORSE spanning 4 countries, beginning with the premier production in Toronto (Mirvish Productions) and finishing in the West End. (New London Theatre) In other large scale puppetry James originated the title characters in Paramount's "The Animables", and worked on development of new puppets for Significant Object. (Circus 1903) After completing research and development on a new large scale puppet (Atlas the lion) with Brunksill and Grimes (James Grimes, London, UK) James was head puppeteer and stayed on as associate puppetry director for the Longleat Estate 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Using his background in hand and rod puppetry, James has just finished shooting a series of ads for Soreen ("Squidgy bit Soreen" campaign, May 2017). James is currently working on "The Space Between" at the Young Vic on a new development piece. James starred as both the lead actor and puppeteer.

James is a passionate director and educator and has taught workshops across the USA, Canada and the UK. (Recently Kingsway College in Toronto, Queens University and University of Toronto.) He is one of 4 people certified in North America by the National Theatre of Great Britain to conduct workshops and classes in the art of puppetry and movement.

James also works in motion capture and has trained with Sarah Perry (Shapes in Motion) .

James has worked for various large brands in commercials as both an actor and puppeteer.