Contemporary Puppetry Workshops
Having worked on a lot of crazy shows with many different performers, directors and theatre makers since FaultyOptic, I have created a number of contemporary puppetry workshops to share some of the techniques and concepts that I have experienced and developed over the years.
These workshops are generally for people with some performance experience from acting, dance, physical theatre and of course puppeteers. I also find that directors, set designers, dramaturgs and even film animators find the ideas and techniques useful.
And puppetry experience is definitely NOT necessary.
Every workshop has been carefully planned but can be adapted to suit different levels of experience and time scales.
photo: Illuminating the DARKER side of Puppetry workshop.
A specially commissioned 2 week workshop at Nordland Visual Theatre, Stamsund. Norway 2024
- 'A pleasure being taught by you Gavin and it really has changed the way I see puppetry.'
- 'Your keen eye has been so important as has your light and easy attitude!'
- 'Thank you Gavin for keeping it calm and happy when everyone was losing their SH*T !!'
Micro Cinema THEATRE
Live Camera and Performance workshop
Laboratory style masterclass for all theatre practitioners and video artists to explore and incorporate live low-tech video camera work with on stage theatre performance.
make a Mini ARTHOUSE Movie
Film making workshop
With a nod to other acclaimed ARTHOUSE Movie makers and animators such as Jan Svankmejer, The Quay Brothers, Maya Deren and David Lynch we will create our own Mini ARTHOUSE Movie ready for the Big Screen, Small Screen, Art installation or theatre show.
The DARKER Side of Puppetry
Contemporary Puppetry and Performance workshop
Dragging puppetry to the DARKER side to provoke some intriguing, tender and sometimes disturbing reactions.
Puppetry skills for Contemporary Theatre
Puppetry Manipulation Skills workshop
Exploring the ways a puppet can walk, run and fall over, how it can apparently have feelings, reactions and even a sense of humour!
Online Mentoring
Friendly and accessible mentoring sessions for advice, coaching, dramaturgy, microcinema, story ideas, research and development, design, construction, workshop follow ups etc etc..
CONTACT me directly
1-to-1 BESPOKE Making Sessions
Design and build a head or figure that is expressive, workable and robust. Examples could include clay modelling, plaster casting, puppet jointing and internal structures.
See Calendar for upcoming workshops
How to host a workshop
Workshops are generally organised by theatres, educational institutions, drama schools or by individuals.
These may be as part of a festival, an education program or a private invitation.
Please CONTACT me if you would like to discuss hosting a workshop.
Recent teaching collaborations
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, UK.
- Tarumba Marionettes, Lisbon, Portugal.
- La Capra Ballerina, Acquapendente, Italy.
- MAAF, Pinerolo, Italy.
- Segovia, Unima Spain.
- Junta de Andalusia, Spain.
- AQM University Montreal, Quebec.
- London International Mime Festival UK.
- Manipulate Festival, Edinburgh UK.
- Norwich Puppet Theatre UK.
- Curious School of Puppetry, Edinburgh, UK.
- Unity Theatre, Liverpool, UK.
- Little Angel Theatre, London, UK.
- Moving Parts Festival, Newcastle UK.
- Casteliers Festival, Montreal, Quebec.
- Figurenteater Kolleg, Bochum, Germany.
- Westflügel, Leipzig, Germany.
- Karlsson Haus Theatre, Saint Petersbourg.
- ESNAM Charleville-Mézières, France.
- The Complex, Dublin, Ireland.
- UNIMA Hellas, Greece.
- Theater Strick, Klagenfurt, Austria.
- Nordland Visual Theatre. Stamsund, Norway.
- Atelier Libušín, Prague, CZ.
- ANIMO, Kwidzyn, Poland.