Hi!
This is a guide of what we could offer/ do with participants who would like to learn about how to breathe life into a marionette – a string puppet – and how to make it move realistically and also how to play and interact as an ‘actor’ with the marionette 😊
We find that puppetry theatre is a unique language that speaks to children and people in an intriguing way.
It ignites a curiosity that demands exploration;
it can provide a great ‘distraction’ that will challenge the brain to think in alternative/ not usual ways;
it can be used as a circuit breaker and help tired or stressed minds reset and feel lighter about the day;
because puppetry and puppetry theatre encourage Play while using Cognitive, Creative and Coordination skills without drawing attention to the fact.
We use music in our workshops, integrating the mathematics/ science brain to the creative/ emotional brain,
We use body awareness, movement and coordination (transferring your energy from the puppet control in your hands, through the strings to move the marionette),
We use dance and choreography (requiring memory and coordination),
We use theatre stage spacing (spatial awareness) and group energy awareness,
We use storytelling – verbally and non-verbally, and
We use design and sculpture – already from learning how to use a sculpted object, that is the marionette, to imagining possible sets/ puppet characters/ staging ideas, and more!
NB: All workshops can be done for all ages if there is adult assistance available for smaller children.
Adults are also welcome to do the workshops
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1) Watch Me Move (Like) A Marionette
Recommended ages 5 and up
The workshop can begin with a theatrical game to warm up the group, getting everyone involved and interacting in a playful way.
We then do a short demonstration of the marionette and how it moves, inviting volunteers from the group to help with the
demonstration.
The company provides various string marionettes for the participants to learn how to hold and animate them, and learn also to interact with each other and with other marionettes.
If the group is well connected, there may even be the chance to create a short choreography or story with all the participants and marionettes together!
Space needed:
– A space with good lighting, with good air circulation, chairs, and a usable toilet nearby.
– A clean dry floor space and if available, a large mirror or two smaller mirrors (full body length visible) are very useful!
– If available, a power point to connect the amplifier for the music (or we can use our battery-operated amplifier)
NB: All workshops can be done for all ages if there is adult assistance available for smaller children.
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General tools needed for puppet-making workshops: (can be supplied by the organiser or brought by the participant)
Comfortable clothes that are okay to get dirty, or bring something to cover clothes, enough tables for the requested number of participants, chairs, scissors, coloured pens, wood (white) glue, paper masking tape…. this can be discussed when organising the workshops.
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2) The Little Dog Marionette
Recommended ages 8 and up
The company prefers to provide the materials, unless it is guaranteed that the organisation finds the
correct materials needed for the workshop, then the fee can be reduced.
A simple marionette made of mostly wooden balls of different sizes, with some pins for eyes, some soft material for the ears, different types of strings to connect the pieces, and some special buttons for the feet, this Little Dog Marionette is adorable and easy to animate!
Space needed:
A space with good lighting, with good air circulation, tables to work at, chairs, and a usable toilet nearby.
A clean dry floor space and if available, a large mirror or two smaller mirrors (full body length visible) are very useful!
If available, a power point to connect the amplifier for the music (or we can use our battery-operated amplifier)
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3) A Cloth Creature Marionette
Recommended ages 7 and up
The company prefers to provide the materials, unless it is guaranteed that the organisation finds the correct materials needed for the workshop, then the fee can be reduced. The company will provide the necessary tools if needed.
Recycled materials can be used for this marionette!
A simple marionette made mostly of cloth which can come from an old pillowcase, an old tea towel or an old Tshirt (recycled to make the body of the Cloth Creature), and the participant is invited to bring elastic bands and medium sized pebbles or a handful of coins for the feet and hands of the marionette.
Also any recycled buttons, wool, pieces of material, can be used to decorate the marionette if provided by the participant.
The head of the puppet can also be made from a small recycled plastic bottle/ plastic medicine bottle.
We look forward to hearing from you!
In Puppetry friendship,
Rhoda and Remo, and the marionettes
Thank you @marcobiancucci for the photos
