Short String Marionette Masterclass with Ronnie Le Drew

The course will develop short string marionette manipulation skills particularly focusing on developing character work. Ronnie has been performing with puppets since his childhood, and became professionally engaged in the work in the early 1960's when he joined the Little Angel Theatre company under its founder director John Wright. He has performed in most of the theatre's productions over the last 40 years.

Film and Television roles includes Zippy from Rainbow, Sooty and Sweep, Muffin the Mule, Meerkat commercial, Brains from Thunderbirds and Diet Coke commercials, plus Jim Henson's Labyrinth and Muppet Movies.

For Little Angel he has directed Cindermouse which also played at Norwich Puppet Theatre. Recent performances at the Little Angel include Petrushka, Splish Splash! and The Snitchity Titch Show

www.ronnieledrew.com

Dates and Times: Sat 3 & Sun 4 March, 10am to 5pm each day
Participants must attend both days.
Cost: £95

Introduction to Puppetry Performance

Introduction to Puppetry Performance
This crash course for total beginners assists you in discovering the essential skills needed to bring puppets and objects alive with movement and emotion. The sessions will include learning about puppet life, breath and focus. An entertaining and comprehensive introduction to the art of the puppeteer, led by Oliver Smart, director of Folded Feather and Little Angel Theatre educationalist.

Stage Lighting for Puppetry Theatre

Explore the fascinating relationship between lighting and puppetry in this one day workshop with Little Angel Theatre’s resident Lighting Designer, David Duffy. Practical exercises will include hands-on access to theatre lighting equipment, and a detailed look at puppetry movement in different lighting states. This course is ideal for performers and directors from new and emerging puppetry companies, and those wishing to explore the visual relationship between puppet and puppeteer.

Dates and Times: Sun 11 March, 10am to 5pm, 20 places
Cost: £30 / £20 concessions

Marionette Carving Workshop with John Roberts

John Roberts is one of the most experienced course leaders in Europe having run carving courses since 1980 in the UK and internationally. The workshop will cover design of a marionette, working with wood and tools, and a unique combination of Chinese and European techniques with the aim of producing a fully functioning puppet to take away with you at the end of the week.

Dates and Times: Mon 12 to Fri 16 March, 10am - 6pm each day
Cost: £280

Table Top Construction Workshop

Peter O'Rourke leads a five day long Table Top Construction Workshop.

Concentrating on the technical aspects of making table-top puppets, the emphasis will be on principles of construction to enable the maker to build good movement into puppets through an analysis and understanding of pivot points and jointing.

Students will work from a prototype specifically devised to demonstrate ways of designing good movement, taking into account the needs of the performer. This detailed and in-depth course focuses on mechanics rather than aesthetics, the shapes used will be simple and the materials and approach means that each student should be able to take away their own prototype at the end of the course as well as an understanding of the mechanics of table-top puppets.

An opportunity to draw on the knowledge of one of the profession’s best designer/makers.

Dates and Times: Mon 16 to Fri 20 April, 10am - 6pm each day
Cost: £280