‘A Bit of a Show’

For the first time PuppetCraft is offering a week’s training on finishing and performing.

John Roberts (artistic director of PuppetCraft) has run puppet-carving courses in Devon for 18 years. These have grown in popularity year on year. Now due to much badgering from past course participants John has scheduled a one-week course for anyone to finish nearly complete puppets and take them into performing.

By keeping the numbers down to 10 at most, individual needs, level-of-skill, aims and speed-of-working will be catered for. This is a course for adults: ie not for anyone under 18 years old, but beginners and experienced puppeteers are welcome.

Aspects that will be covered include painting, wig making, stringing or adding rods, refining movement, operating skills, making of costumes using glue and staples or dying and sowing, devising a short performance, planning the puppets stage or environment, lighting and scenery considerations, working as a solo performer and as part of a team.

It will be a highly practical course, driven by individuals needs. Some of the time people will work individually with one-to-one tuition. Some work will be in a group. We will have access to lighting and sound equipment. Materials will be on hand to make instant props, scenery and stages. We will have a musician join us to add live music.

Anyone coming on the week should expect to finish and fine-tune their puppet, develop operating skill and devise a short puppet performance to be shared with an audience.
The aim is also to gain knowledge of ways of presenting different puppet types, experiment with puppets with music and voice… and to have a good time!

The course will be 10th to 15th August 2008 at Dartington, Devon, in a venue still be confirmed, in the grounds of the famous Dartington Hall Estate. We will try out some of the results of the week’s work in front of an invited audience… or capture it on video…or maybe go busking!

For more information go to Website or email address in RH column ---> or telephone 01803 867778