At last courses are being run again.
A new workshop shed has been built under an oak tree with space for 4 students at a time.
All the weeks have filled up amazing fast, showing how much interest there is for carving puppets from wood.
…Involving a trip into Totnes to perform to passers-by!
Well it was a busy few weeks but enormous fun and I’m always overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and hard work of everyone who joins us.
Will you be coming along next year?
Added 9th February 2011.
We are still touring The Mousehole Cat to great appreciation.
“My favorite show.” “A little gem!” Audience comments.
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Our workshop has been busy making puppets for other theatre companies:
Professor Yaffle the wooden woodpecker was made lovingly out of plywood for a theatre show of Bagpuss which ran at the Soho Theatre, London.
And two large puppets for a large theatre show by celebrated Kneehigh Theatre.
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Plans are afoot to make a new production … on an African theme…. working with top musician Chartwell.
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Making courses have been more popular this year than ever.
Added 31st August 2008
Two weeks were devoted to carving wooden puppets, with a wonderful range of inventive puppets being designed and created.
Comments from participants:“Brilliant.. don’t think the course could be improved…except too many biscuits!” “Very relaxed atmosphere… spot on… fantastic…exceeded expectations.” ” Emphasis was on producing a puppet of high quality with attention to detail.”
One week was a “Finishing and Performing” course.
For people who had nearly complete puppets this was a chance to be guided through painting, stringing, wig and costume making and the devising of a short performance that was shared with the public of our local town, and even made it onto BBC TV.
Comments: “Exciting to see my puppet come to life.” “Such fun.. and informative. Gave me the push I needed.”
See GALLERY for pictures from the courses
Added 25th November 2007
A performance-based course with Japanese master-puppeteer Nori SAWA.
25th to 29th March 2008 at Dartington, Totnes, Devon, England.
For Puppeteers, Actors, Designers, Arists, Dancers, Musicians.
A rare opportunity to engage with the traditions of the ancient art of Japanese “Bunraku” puppet theatre… and to bring these skills up to date and make work relevant to today’s theatre.
10 places are reserved for people living and/or working in the South West.
Grants will be given to allow 3 people from the South West to pay only £50.
Please express an interest as soon as possible, so PuppetCraft can show funders that there is a need to run this course.
Added 14th May 2005
Our director treated himself to an amazing week at Forkbeard Fantasy,
learning new techniques, meeting other obsessed artists and eating wonderful food.
Work was started on filming a short sequence for the Unicorn project, animation
was tried and vacuum forming was encountered for the first time.
Photo is of Ed, Forkbeard’s technician…. with lots of cables!
