Puppy Teeth is a deeply personal play by Owen Carter, inspired by his upbringing in rural Newfoundland and his experiences as a queer person. The play centers on Adam, 18, and Daddy, 43, exploring themes of queer shame and predatory dynamics in the context of outport Newfoundland. While it’s difficult to define the play, at its heart, it serves as a complicated love letter to Carter’s home. 

The play is heavily influenced by movement, blending text and physicality. In a 2023 workshop funded by ArtsNL and Untellable Movement Theatre’s Movement Theatre Incubator, Carter explored how movement could enhance the text. Working with movement dramaturg Lynn Panting, he discovered how movement shaped the narrative, adding new layers to the story. This experience highlighted the importance of movement, which Carter plans to further develop in a workshop in the summer of 2025. 

The 2025 workshop will focus on expanding the movement vocabulary and further exploring the text. Carter is excited to continue working with director Sharon King-Campbell and sound designer Shivonne Stevens. The three-week workshop will include preparation, rehearsals, and culminate in documenting the movement created.