John Roberts of PuppetCraft is running three courses in Devon on Carving Wooden Puppets during July and August. John has been running courses for over 26 years, having led his first workshop with the founder of The Little Angel Theatre, John Wright.
Recently there has been an upsurge in interest in this traditional way of creating puppets, possibly because there are very few places to learn practical how-to-do-it skills and because of the versatility of puppets made in wood.
The courses are for adults, designed to cater for beginners and experienced makers. People can aim to make a completed marionette, glove or rod puppet in six days, or take it slower and learn the skills needed to finish their puppet later… or string two of the week-long courses together to ensure a carefully made puppet is fully finished. Many participants come back year after year…one person has been on 14 courses!
There is no ‘working from a set design’; each person designs and makes their own unique puppet.
The courses this year are in a beautiful workshop in the heart of rural Devon.
The last of the three weeks is intended for people who have completed at least one week with John before and it has an extra day so that puppets can be finished and rehearsed into a short performance. Live music will be added by a PuppetCraft musician and the result will be shared with an audience in the nearby town of Totnes.
Comments about past courses:
“Brilliant.! Thoroughly enjoyable.
Loved every minute. Exactly what I wanted. Exceeded expectations.”
“The most enjoyable course Ive done…Relaxed, fun and very clear. This man knows his onions!”
John is the maker behind the Drench Water advert “Brains” marionette, the recent puppets in the Meerkat advert, marionettes in The Little Angel’s “Petroushka”… and all of PuppetCraft’s shows.
Carve a Wooden Puppet.
Three courses... do one, 2 or 3 weeks!
25th to 30th July 2010.
1st to 6th August.
8th to 14th August:
For more information see contacts in right column - >
or telephone 01803-867778
