"BIG IMAGINATION WITH A FEW THINGS" - JEAN SEPTEMBER, BRITISH COUNCIL
SHADOW PUPPETS From simple laminated shadow puppets to object shadows and even shadows you create with your hands, we offer a range of workshops around this simple and pleasing form of puppetry. "A huge thank you for Wednesday. The kids and I had a great time, they all came in yesterday asking if you had come back!" - Kate Lewis, Teacher, St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, London
OBJECT THEATRE We sit in a circle and a group of objects is passed around to be played with by each individual in turn, until many different ways of using the object have been found. How does it move? Does it make a sound? Animation possibilities emerge from this creative play session, then small groups of participants join their objects together to create characters. This works hand in glove with the six part storyboard, where we create a new story to perform with the object puppets. The video shows a group of young adults improvising a story we created together with their object puppets. "Thank you for coming to our school. I have learnt a lot from you, like making a puppet out of eggs, cups and other things as well. I thought it was very clever how you made your puppets." - Cameron, Pupil at Darell Primary School, London
PUPPETS MADE FROM JUNK From old milk cartons, abandoned flowerpots and sticks you can make the most wonderful rod / glove puppets that can also be operated on a table-top. Quick to make, this workshop involves no glue or paint. These recycled puppets are inspired by the way the main character is made in Little Red Riding Hood (For more about Little Red Riding Hood click the image on the left). "Thank you for coming and sharing with us your fantastic puppets." - Dan Thompson, Pupil at Darell Primary School, London
PUPPETS MADE FROM PICNIC THINGS Inspired by the simple characters made in Salt, these fun and easy puppets will delight young and old (For more about Salt click the image on the left). "Thank you for showing me the best ever puppet show. It was great to watch and make a puppet." - Maisy, Pupil at Darell Primary School, London
SPINNING TOYS Part spindle and part yo-yo these spinning toys have been designed to work in conjunction with performances of Tom Tit Tot, which is all about spinning wool (For more about Tom Tit Tot click the image on the left). "You were such a big hit with the children and the staff and I am very grateful to you for coming along." - Fiona Johnstone, Deputy Head, Oakfield Preparatory School, London
THE SIX PART STORY BOARD This is a fantastic tool for creating new stories or getting to grips with existing ones. A well-known story is fitted into the six-part storyboard structure (hero/heroine, their mission, an obstacle to overcome, a helper, how they overcome the obstacle, the end) before the group create a new story, and explore storytelling techniques (use of vocal dynamics and character voices, rhyme and song, facial expression and gesture). This workshop can be joined with any of the other workshops to create a short performance. "Everyone loved it!" - Bethany, Pupil at Darell Primary School, London
