Workshops facilitated by L&FPCo. include puppetry with found objects, bunraku style puppetry with multiple manipulators, shadow puppetry, giant puppet building, and many others. These are open to all ages and experience levels and may be presented in many different contexts.
Workshop: Found Object Theatre
Who: Ages 5 and up
Time: 1.5 hours- 3.5 hours
Whether it is an egg carton, a plastic bag, or computer parts, they can all have lives of their own with the assistance of a puppeteer. In this workshop students will explore the idea that a puppet is any performing object. Participants will first discover character through physical exploration. Students will play with objects as if they were toys as a technique for discovering specific characteristics. Each object has its own way of moving, communicating, and emoting. Basic ideas of puppetry will be introduced, such as the idea of getting out of the way of the puppet to allow the puppet to breathe its own life. Puppeteers will work in groups to improvise scenes between their objects and present them at an informal class performance.
MATERIALS COST: $0.00.
ROOM SPECIFICATIONS: Cleared space for movement exploration. Tables for performance spaces.
Workshop: Paper Made Bunraku
Who: Ages 7 and up
Time: 2 hours individual workshop or 2-10 sessions
Bunraku is a traditional form of puppetry from Japan, in which a human figure is manipulated by 3 puppeteers. One manipulates the head and arm, another the torso and arm, the third the feet. Together, through the intuitive movements of all 3 puppeteers working together, the puppet is brought to life with superb specificity. In this workshops, students will created a neutral looking human figure made out of crushed paper and masking tape. Then they will group into threes and experiment with making the puppet come alive with breath, emotion, physicality, and storytelling.
MATERIALS COSTS: individually priced per class.
ROOM SPECIFICATIONS: Cleared space for movement exploration. Tables for performance spaces.
Workshop: Rod Style Puppetry with Found & Natural Materials
Who: ages 6-and up
Time: 2 hours workshop for 2-10 sessions
Rod puppetry is a widely practiced style from many different traditions around the world. In this workshops students will collect sticks and other natural materials to create their own rod style puppet. When the puppets are made, students will engage in a process of discovering who the character of their puppet is, and will team up to create original stories where their puppets act them out. Students may practice hiding as the puppeteer.
MATERIALS COSTS: individually priced per class.
ROOM SPECIFICATIONS: Cleared space for movement exploration. Tables for performance spaces.
Workshop: Glove Puppetry
Who: Ages 6- and up
Time: 2 hours individual workshop or f2-10 sessions
Glove puppetry is one of the oldest forms of puppetry in the world, and is most commonly recognized from the English tradition of Punch and Judy. In this workshop participants will make their own glove style puppet, using papier mache and fabric. When the puppets are made, students will engage in a process of discovering who the character of their puppet is, and will team up to create original stories where their puppets act them out. Students may practice hiding as the puppeteer.
MATERIALS COSTS:individually priced per class
ROOM SPECIFICATIONS:Cleared space for movement exploration. Tables for performance spaces.
Workshop: Shadow Puppetry Workshop
Who: Ages 8 and up
Time: (Shadowjams—2 hours) OR (Shadow play—5 sessions)
Shadow puppetry is one of the oldest and most highly developed storytelling traditions in the world. Drawing from traditional Indonesian Shadow Puppetry (Wayang Kulit), participants will learn how to create their own original Shadow Theatre shows or Shadowjam Sessions (an improvised form of shadow theatre using music, flashlights and an overhead projector). Students will have the opportunity to play with light and shadow as well as create their own 2-D shadow puppets.
MATERIALS COST: individually priced per class.
ROOM SPECIFICATIONS: Work tables. Room must be able to get dark. shadow screen & overhead projector (provided by artist)
Mask & Glove Puppetry Workshop
Who: Ages 5 and up
Time: 2 hour workshop or 6 sessions.
Students will explore a mask as an animated face while working together with another puppeteer to create two working hands and arms of the same puppet character. They will work in partners to explore hand gesture, character, and story for each mask and glove puppet. Short choreographed scenes can be presented at an informal performance.
MATERIALS COSTS: individually priced per class.
ROOM SPECIFICATIONS: Cleared space for movement exploration. Tables for performance spaces.
Giant Puppets Workshop
Who: Ages 6 and up
Time: 3 hours (6 sessions)
Through an exploration of found objects and stream of consciousness writing, students will create an original story. The story will be part of a playmaking process that includes both acted out characters and a character of larger than life proportions. Using papier mache technique an entire class will participate in the creation of this larger than life character. After the giant puppet is built students will work together to animate it as part of a show that incorporates music, drama, and puppetry.
MATERIALS COSTS: individually priced per class.
ROOM SPECIFICATIONS:Cleared space for movement exploration. Work tables. Storage space for large puppet while in process.