🎭 Puppet-Making & Performance Workshops at Manipulate Arts Festival!
Hands-on workshops running from April 21st–27th at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle. Learn from expert artists and craft your own puppets!
Get Creative with Puppetry: Manipulate Arts Festival Workshops
If you’ve ever wanted to pull the strings on a new skill—whether through making, performing, or storytelling—Manipulate Arts Festival has an incredible lineup of workshops this April at the Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne. Led by expert artists, these sessions offer hands-on experiences for all ages and skill levels. Check out what’s on offer!
Whirl-a-Bird Puppet Making Course
by Chloe Rodham
Dates: Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th April, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
For: Adults & Teens 12+ (12-14 must be accompanied by an adult)
Cost: £120 (includes both days and materials)
Design and build your own unique rod-and-wheeled table top puppet in this two-day workshop. From sketching a concept to constructing a sturdy structure with papier-mâché, you’ll bring your flightless feathered friend to life with layered textures and colour. Perfect for creative minds, no prior experience required!
More info | Book
Beasts and Varmints: 6-Day Puppet Making Course
by Judith Hope
Dates: Monday 21st – Saturday 26th April, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
For: Adults (18+)
Cost: £360 (includes all 6 days and materials)
Inspired by folklore, mythology, and your own imagination, this intensive course will guide you through creating a beastly puppet character. Learn how to sculpt with paper clay and Worbla, construct head mechanisms, and create an articulated body with detailed finishing touches. Judith Hope’s fantastical designs have made her a festival favourite, and this workshop is perfect for those looking to string together professional puppet-making skills.
More info | Book
Boogie-ing Badgers Workshop
With Pui Lee
Date: Sunday 27th April (Sessions at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM)
For: All ages (younger children need parent/guardian support)
Cost: Free (no booking required)
Join this family-friendly craft session and create a moving puppet of a dancing badger! Choose a funky outfit, decorate your badger, and bring it to life with motion. A playful, hands-on experience that will get everyone moving!
More info | Book
Feisty Fox Friends Workshop
With Pui Lee
Date: Friday 25th April (Sessions at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM)
For: All ages (younger children need parent/guardian support)
Cost: Free (no booking required)
Craft your own Feisty Fox Friend hand-puppet using paper and card. Drawing from folk tales and classic storytelling, this workshop lets you personalize your fox and imagine the adventures they’ll have!
More info | Book
Manipulating Marionettes: A New Approach
With Stephen Mottram
Dates: Friday 25th & Saturday 26th April, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
For: Adults (18+)
Cost: £120 (includes both days and materials)
This physical performance workshop explores the movement of string puppets and challenges traditional ideas about marionette theatre. Working with a variety of puppet types—including figures from Stephen’s renowned productions—participants will refine their manipulation techniques and discover new ways to pull the audience’s attention.
More info | Book
The Heart of Story: Crafting Narrative for Puppet Theatre
With William Steele
Dates: Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd April, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
For: Adults & Teens 16+
Cost: £120 (includes both days and materials)
Learn the essential storytelling skills for puppet theatre! This workshop will focus on narrative structure, character development, and visual storytelling—helping you craft a meaningful piece of puppet theatre with minimal dialogue. Perfect for writers, directors, and puppeteers alike.
More info | Book
The Darker Side of Puppetry
With Gavin Glover
Dates: Wednesday 23rd & Thursday 24th April, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
For: Adults (18+)
Cost: £120 (includes both days and materials)
Explore the unsettling and mysterious side of puppetry through experimental techniques. You’ll create unique characters—such as phantoms, imposters, and effigies—and challenge traditional performance rules to uncover new, unexpected narratives. A must-attend for theatre creatives looking to push the boundaries and bring new characters to life!
More info | Book
Book Your Spot!
Workshops are filling up fast, so be sure to secure your place. For more details and to book tickets, visit www.movingpartsarts.com
Whether you're new to puppetry or a seasoned professional, these workshops offer a fantastic opportunity to learn, create, and connect with the world of puppet theatre. Don’t miss out!
📍 Location: Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
🎭 Part of the Manipulate Arts Festival
🎟 Some workshops are free, others require booking
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