Upcoming Puppet Workshops for 2025
Unlock Your Inner Puppeteer – A Curated Guide by Holly Likes Puppets
Unlock Your Inner Puppeteer – A Curated Guide by Holly Likes Puppets
Explore the magical world of puppetry in 2025! Whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned performer looking to refine your craft, this growing list of workshops offers something for everyone.
From hands-on beginner sessions to intensive masterclasses led by world-class puppeteers, these workshops are happening across the UK — and online for those further afield. Come learn new skills, connect with a vibrant creative community, and bring your puppets (and imagination) to life.
This guide is updated regularly, and highlighted in the monthly newsletter, so be sure to check back often or subscribe today.
Hosting a workshop that’s not listed? Drop me a message — I’d love to include it!
hollylikespuppets@gmail.com
🗓 May – Dive into shadow puppetry with artist Izzy Bristow and catch a rare live puppetry showcase at the V&A during London Craft Week.
🗓 June – Explore automata, puppet painting, shadow mechanics, and giant puppets — with both online and in-person workshops from leading artists and theatres.
🗓 July – Unleash your creativity with summer schools, carving marionettes, and masterclasses from Meriel Pym and Nick Barnes Puppets across the UK.
🗓 August – Build wooden puppets, design tiny touring sets, and explore online set design with acclaimed makers like Joel Sass and Sarah Frechette.
🗓 September – Learn multi-operator puppetry with Blind Summit, or join Little Angel Theatre’s Foundation and Intermediate courses to build strong, hands-on skills.
🗓 October – Take part in an in-depth puppet creation workshop with Blind Summit — a week-long opportunity to design, build, and perform your own puppet.
🗓 November – Coming soon – workshops and events still being confirmed!
🗓 December – Coming soon – check back for end-of-year puppet happenings!
If you have a workshop that isn’t listed please contact me at hollylikespuppets@gmail.com
January 2025 Workshops
Explore a variety of exciting puppetry workshops and enhance your skills! Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned puppeteer, there's something for everyone.
March Creative Workshops 2025
Exciting puppetry, theatre, and open house events to spark your creativity!
Workshops for Aspiring Puppeteers
Junior Puppeteers (Norwich) – 11th January – 29th March 2025
These fun, weekly sessions at Norwich Puppet Theatre are perfect for kids looking to explore puppet making, storytelling, and performance. The term ends with a showcase for family and friends!
Cost: £60 for 10 sessions
Location: Norwich Puppet Theatre, NR3 1TN
Website: norwichpuppettheatre.co.uk
Saturday 11th January 2025
How to Structure, Develop and Build a Narrative
Little Angel Theatre
Duration: 2-day course
Location: Sebbon St, London N1 2EH
Join Emma Williams for an in-depth 2-day workshop on building narratives from images, themes, and adaptations. Perfect for writers, directors, and anyone interested in developing stories for puppetry.
More Info and Bookings Here
Saturday, 18th January 2025:
Micro Cinema Theatre with Potato Room Productions
Little Angel Theatre
Duration: 2-day course
Location: Sebbon St, London N1 2EH
Explore creating miniature worlds and integrating technology into your puppetry in this hands-on workshop.
Bookings Here | More information
Sunday, 20th January - Thursday, 24th January 2025:
Marionette Carving Course
Little Angel Theatre
Duration: 5-day course
Location: Sebbon St, London N1 2EH
Unleash your creativity in this immersive 5-day course, learning the art of carving marionettes. Limited availability!
More Info and Bookings Here
🤡 Cross-Training in Puppets & Clowns
When? 29th – 30th January (4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) & 1st February (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
Fancy blending slapstick and string-pulling? Join Pierre Blaise (artistic director of Théâtre aux Mains Nues) and Franck Dinet (director of Théâtre Samovar) for a playful exploration of how clowns and puppets collide. It’s a match made in quirky, theatrical heaven!
👉 Where: Théâtre Samovar, Paris
More info | Book
💼 Weekend Internship with Grégoire Callies
When? 31st January – 2nd February 2025
Ever wondered how a glove puppet can express as much emotion as an actor? Join renowned puppeteer Grégoire Callies for an intensive workshop exploring the magic of Chinese glove puppetry. Warning: you may never look at your hands the same way again.
👉 Cost: €180
👉 Where: Théâtre aux Mains Nues, Paris
More info | Book
Saturday, 1st - Sunday, 2nd February 2025
Vamos Theatre – Revealing the Mask
Location: Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT
Duration: 2-day workshop (10:30am - 4:00pm each day)
Price: £150 (£130 concessions)
For participants 18+
Join Vamos Theatre, the UK’s leading full mask theatre company, for an inspiring, high-energy workshop designed for actors, performers, and theatre practitioners. Delivered by Honor Hoskins, the Creative Producer of Vamos Theatre, this workshop will introduce you to the world of full mask techniques, including characterisation, physicality, stillness, and isolation. If you’re already familiar with mask work, you’ll also explore more advanced skills and devising in full mask as part of an ensemble. Perfect for anyone looking to level up their mask performance skills!
More Info and Bookings Here
Puppetry Without Borders: Online Workshops from Puppets in Prague
New Year, New Puppetry Adventures with Puppets in Prague!
Online classes via Zoom starting in February
🎭✨ Workshops at The Great Con-Junction 2025 ✨🎭
Ready to get hands-on in the world of The Dark Crystal? The workshops at this year’s Great Con-Junction are packed with creativity, inspiration, and Thra magic. Whether you're a budding puppeteer or just love learning new skills, there's something for everyone. Here's what you can expect:
Saturday 8th - Sunday 9th February
Don’t miss this rare opportunity! TAM TAM Objektentheater are bringing their internationally acclaimed mastery to London for a two-day workshop filled with creativity, inspiration, and fun.
Location: Curious Puppet School
To apply email swallowswingspuppetry@gmail.com with a sentence about your creative work and what excites you about this course.
Friday, 14th - Saturday, 15th February 2025:
Micro-cinema Techniques with Potato Room Productions
Part of Manipulate Festival 2025
Location: The Hub, 348-350 Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE
Duration: 2-day course (7 hours each day)
Price: £140/£100 (Payment plan available)
Join this workshop to explore the art of micro-cinema! Learn to make miniature films using everyday objects, smartphones, and video cameras. Focus on storytelling, technical aspects, lighting, composition, and editing, with a hands-on approach to creating your own mini movie for theatre, film, or online platforms.
More Info and Bookings Here
Sunday, 16th February 2025:
Fish Puppet Making Workshops part of Smethwick Puppet Festival 2025
West Smethwick Park Pavilion
Time: 11am-12pm, 1-2pm, 3-4pm (drop-in sessions)
Create your own fish puppet before or after enjoying a performance of ‘Beached’
More Info Here
Tuesday, 18th February 2025:
Toy Puppet Theatre Making Workshop part of Smethwick Puppet Festival 2025
Bearwood Community Hub
Time: 11am-1pm (drop-in session)
Make a Victorian-inspired toy theatre and bring a story to life with cardboard, collage, and painting.
More Info Here
Tuesday, 18th February 2025:
Puppetry Workshop (Ages 8-11)
Royal Shakespeare Company
Time: 10:00am
Explore the basics of puppetry through arts and crafts, learning how to bring puppets to life!
More Info Here
Saturday, 22nd February 2025:
Fancy Fish Puppet Workshop part of Smethwick Puppet Festival 2025
Smethwick Library
Time: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3pm
A fun family workshop where you can create your very own jointed fish puppet! Perfect for ages 3+.
More Info Here
Saturday, 22nd February 2025:
Introduction to Marionette Performance Workshop
Puppet Place
Duration: All day
Get an immersive experience in marionette performance! Learn to animate a marionette with Dr. Emily LeQuense. Suitable for all levels.
More Info and Bookings Here
Saturday, 1st March 2025:
Introduction to Dramaturgy for Puppeteers
Puppet Place
Duration: All day
Explore dramaturgical thinking specific to puppetry, with practical exercises and group discussions.
More Info and Bookings Here
Discover the Manchester School of Costume
Upcoming Course Dates:
8th March 2025: 2 days
4th April 2025
Saturday, 8th March 2025:
Introduction to Object Theatre Workshop
Puppet Place
Duration: All day
Uncover the magic of object theatre! Explore how everyday objects can be brought to life and used for storytelling.
More Info and Bookings Here
🏛️ School Open House
When? 29th March 2025, 2:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Curious about puppetry but not quite ready to commit? Pop along to the theatre’s Open House! Enjoy a guided tour, meet the team, and even try your hand at a free glove puppet workshop led by artistic director Pierre Blaise.
👉 Where: Théâtre aux Mains Nues, Paris
👉 Cost: Free (15+; reservations open 29th February)
More info
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025:
Puppet Box Training Workshop
The Studio, Brighton
Time: 10am-4pm
Whether you're new to puppetry or an experienced performer, this workshop will help you develop essential puppetry skills.
Wednesday, 23rd - Thursday, 24th April 2025:
The Darker Side of Puppetry with Potato Room Productions
Part of Moving Parts Festival 2025
Location: Newcastle (Venue TBD)
Duration: 2-day course (7 hours each day)
Explore new and experimental forms of puppetry, including exploring darker themes and unfamiliar puppet types such as The Alter Ego, The Menace, and The Imposter. Challenge traditional performance approaches and create narratives with unsettling, unexpected, or surreal elements. This workshop is open to anyone curious about alternative performance methods, including actors, dancers, clowns, puppeteers, and directors.
More Info and Bookings Here
Potato Room Productions Instagram
Do you have an event coming up? Let me know!