Workshops
Well-planned and organised, our puppetry workshops are a fun and creative way to explore the curriculum, and provide a high-quality learning experience for all students. Whether you would like to work with us for one day, a whole academic year or anything in between we can provide a variety of bespoke puppetry workshops and residencies, just ask!
Early Years
Once Upon A Time – Sensory Play
Each session has a sensory play activity and a chance to sing and dance along with Angel. The classes are designed with a variety of ages in mind, with guided play for babies and craft activities for toddlers.
Time Needed: 1 hour
Age: Aimed at nursery or pre-school
Cost: £200+Vat
Little Makers – Brilliant Butterfly Puppets
We can work with very young children to make puppets. Our simple puppet designs including spoon people, hand/glove bag puppets and rod puppets, can be adapted to suit the story or topic of your choice.
Time Needed: At least half a day per class
Age: Aimed at EYFS – year 2 but can be adapted for younger years
Cost: See bottom of the page
KS1
Little Makers
We can work with very young children to make puppets. Our simple puppet designs including spoon people, hand/glove bag puppets and rod puppets, can be adapted to suit the story or topic of your choice.
How does it link to the curriculum?
- English- communication and language
- D&T- materials
Time Needed: At least half a day per class
Age: Aimed at Reception – year 2
Cost: See bottom of the page
Table Top Puppets
These people puppets are extremely versatile. We can work with your class to make characters from a specific story, historical period or topic of your choice, just ask!
How does it link to the curriculum?
- English- communication and language
- D&T- materials
Time Needed: A full day per class
Age: Aimed at year 1 upwards
Cost: See bottom of the page
Mr Gobble’s Garden
Students watch a short film set in a world where everything is made from repurposed objects; they learn what is needed to care for the plants in Mr Gobble’s garden, and how every element of nature (even those that might be considered as a pest) is important to keep the circle of life flowing. With a focus on the science of life and growth, each student will craft an ecosystem plant puppet and learn how to perform with it.
How does it link to the curriculum?
- Plants – requirements for life and growth
- Habitats – plants and animals
- Relationships – friendship, respect and cooperation
Time Needed: A full day per class
Age: Aimed at year 1 upwards
Cost: See bottom of the page
KS2
Scoop’s Space
In this workshop we begin by watching a short film starring Scoop, who likes to reinvent things and give them new life, and Bertie, a puppet made of recycled objects. We follow Bertie’s adventure as he tries to reach the recycling centre and live out his dreams of being recycled as a kite. Students are taught about the science of plastic bottles and encouraged to examine the different materials used to make the puppets. Each student will build their own Bertie inspired puppet and learn how to perform with it, with a focus on how we can be a good citizen and help
How does it link to the curriculum?
- Environmental Sustainability – Recycling, Protecting the environment (earth and sea)
- PSHE – Aspirations, Citizenship
- D&T – Materials
Time Needed: A half day or full day
Age: Aimed at years 3-6
Cost: See bottom of the page
Shadow Puppets
In this workshop, children not only learn a new puppet-making skill while creating exciting fantasy worlds and characters but they also explore science as they learn about shadow and light.
How does it link to the curriculum?
- Science – shadow and light
Time Needed: A half day or full day
Age: Aimed at years 3-6
Cost: See bottom of the page
Dragon Puppets
Want to learn how to train a Dragon? Design your own fantastical creature and make it fly using puppetry. These string puppets are perfect for groups exploring mythical or fantasy stories.
How does it link to the curriculum?
- English – communication and language
- D&T – materials
Time Needed: A full day per class
Age: Aimed at years 3-6
Cost: See bottom of the page
Table Top Puppets
These people puppets are extremely versatile. We can work with your class to make characters from a specific story, historical period or topic of your choice, just ask!
How does it link to the curriculum?
- English- communication and language
- D&T- materials
Time Needed: A full day per class
Age: Aimed at year 1 upwards (can be adapted to suit different ages and capabilities)
Cost: See bottom of the page
“The children very much enjoyed the day’s activities. Our topic is ‘Toys’ and so the children were able to replicate a character they designed the previous day”.
Secondary Schools (KS3+)
Adapted to the ability of each class, these workshops provide a more technical approach to puppet creation and performance.
Performance
These workshops can be adapted for any age group and length of time. For shorter workshops, we offer instructions should students wish to craft puppets independently after the sessions.
An Introduction to Puppetry Performance
Aimed at total beginners, this is a crash course in puppeteering. We will teach you essential skills and techniques needed to bring objects alive with movement and emotion. You will be able to practice these skills using puppets from Little Angel Theatre’s collection.
Time Needed: A full day or half day for up to 30 people
Age: Aimed at young people and adults from Year 7/8 (age 11) upwards (also suitable for FE/HE and adult groups)
Cost: See bottom of the page
Meet the Puppets and try out Puppeteering
Meet some of our puppets and learn about how they work, what they are made from and how we make them – then have a go yourselves.
Time Needed: Minimum 1.5 hours
Age: This workshop can be adapted for any age group
Cost: From £200 +VAT, minimum time required 1.5 hours
Making
Shadow and Light
Make shadow puppets, play with perspective and use objects to add textures and colours. This workshops is the perfect way to explore scientific ideas, drawing or performances.
Time Needed: A half day or a full day per class
Age: Aimed at years 7-9
Cost: See bottom of the page
Table Top Puppets Make and Share
Make and perform with table top puppets. We can be inspired by history or a location, or characters from a novel. These upright people puppets are a great way to explore themes and get children to engage with characters.
Time Needed: A full day per class
Age: Aimed at years 7-9
Cost: See bottom of the page
Bespoke Workshops
Meet the Puppets
Meet some of our puppets, find out how they work, what they are made from and how we make them. We can deliver this as part of a school assembly, or it can be combined with a tour of the theatre if you are coming to see a show. Available via Zoom or in person.
Time Needed:30 mins – 1.5hrs. We can adapt this session to your requirements but recommend a minimum of 30 minutes.
Age: This workshop can be adapted for any age group
Cost: From £85 + VAT for Zoom or £150 + VAT for in person
Holidays and Celebrations Workshops
We offer a variety of workshop packages throughout the year for different seasonal events such as Anti-Bullying Week, Winter, World Book Day etc. Using puppetry, students are able to learn about issues and explore solutions with a degree of distance, allowing for honest discussion in a safe environment.
These workshops are available as half or full day events, or over a period of 3 to 5 days. Extended workshops allow us to design and create high quality puppets, practice performance and directing skills, and develop scenes around the chosen theme.
Bespoke Workshops
Whether you would like to make a specific type of puppet not listed above, work with us for one day, a whole academic year or anything in-between, we can provide puppetry workshops and residencies to suit you. Please use the enquiry form to let us know what you are looking for, or request a call-back from one of our team.
Show Related Workshops
Available for bookings at our Studios, at your school/venue, or as a DIY package for you to run independently.
Find out more about our shows, here.
Winter 2022
The Pixie and the Pudding
Students decorate and construct a pop-up theatre and pixie puppet to take home with them.
Time Needed: Minimum one hour per class
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
Students make a bear puppet with moving arms, perfect for creating their own adventures.
Time Needed: Minimum one hour per class
On Tour Workshops
Find out more about our touring work, here.
The Smartest Giant In Town: Using different materials students can create a spoon puppet inspired by the show’s star, the smartest giant.
Time Needed: Minimum 30 mins per class
The Singing Mermaid: With a paper bag and some imagination students can create a hand puppet inspired by the show’s performing circus dogs.
Time Needed: Minimum 30 mins per class
There’s A Rang-Tan in my Bedroom & Other Stories: This zero waste work- shop uses shadow puppetry to explore ways we can protect the environment.
Time Needed: Minimum one hour per class
Me…: Students create their own tiny baby penguin puppet to slip and slide through the winter.
Time Needed: Minimum 30 mins per class
I Want My Hat Back Trilogy: Inspired by the show, students decorate and piece together a comical running bear puppet.
Sounds great – how do I book one?
Our Workshops cost (unless otherwise stated)
£360+VAT for a half day.
£495+VAT for a full day (either 1 class for the whole day or 2 classes for a half day.)
For 3 form entry schools we can offer 1.5 days (half a day per class) for £620+VAT
Please note: Prices are based on our standard workshops for a class of 30 children. If you have particular requests that require additional planning and preparation time, or more than 30 children per group, additional fees may apply.
We are based in Islington. If our workshop leaders need to travel to you by train (beyond tube and London overground reach) or if your school/venue is more than 15 minutes walk from the nearest tube/London overground station (meaning we need to book a taxi to transport our workshop materials) then we may need to add travel expenses to the fee. We will agree this with you when you book.
To book please complete the form below.