Intensive Weekend Puppetry Course with Tessa Bide

About

An introduction to puppetry for all those who are curious in learning this ancient artform - including performers, educators, therapists, parents and grandparents.

Day one will cover the basics of object manipulation, bunraku puppetry and lip syncing. Day two will go further with those skills, including devising with puppets, making simple puppets and large scale puppetry with beautifully handcrafted puppets from Paper Jungle. Isabel Lyster from Paper Jungle will join for Sunday afternoon.

Tessa has been puppeteering for 15 years and has worked all over the world. She has worked and trained with various companies inc. Little Angel Theatre, Blind Summit (Olympic Opening Ceremony 2012) and Mervyn Millar - Puppetry Director of War Horse. She is Director of Tiny and Tall Productions Ltd - an award-winning intergenerational theatre company based in Bristol, UK.

Access

The workshop can tend to be quite physical, but we try hard to accommodate all access needs. We can provide a quiet break-out space for taking rests and can tailor exercises to be performed sitting down. Deaf participants are very welcome, Tessa has a basic level of BSL, but can't guarentee instructions will always be properly interpreted. If you have the means to bring an interpretor with you, this is encouraged. All participants are welcome regardless of age, race, disability, gender, sexual preference or religion. We work hard to create a safe and fun space for everyone.

Contact

For specific questions please email hello@tinyandtall.co.uk.

Refunds

Refunds can be given if cancelling a place up to 7 days before the course. After that, you may transfer your place to someone else but no refunds will be given.

Concessions

This year we are offering a 20% off 'early bird' rate if you book before July 1st (enter code EARLYBIRD2025) and a 25% off discount for groups of four people booking the weekend together. We are afraid we can't offer any further concessions.

Previous testimonials include:

"Lots of fun and I learned loads! Definitely gained lots of skills that I will now use in the work that I do."

"Covered so much - a really good insight into the world of puppetry. Was really useful particularly in sharing knowledge and skills related to puppetry auditions."

"This intensive puppetry course was a brilliant experience for performers, makers and anyone in-between. Tessa, Hester and Bella created a really welcoming and inspiring atmosphere to really step into the art and craft of puppetry. Personally as someone who doesn't not see themselves as I performer, I found myself myself more willing to explore this side of puppetry than expected, both in a group and solo-setting. A great bundle of information, experience and memories all in one go, simply brilliant two days."

"The course introduced participants to the fundamentals of puppetry and laid the foundations for someone like me who intends to explore puppetry and object manipulation in the future through live performance."

"It was varied BUT focused. It enabled exploration of the different types of puppets and allowed trial and error. It was definitely varied enough for a one day course and covered everything I hoped."

"It was so varied that there was not a moment where I was not learning new things, non stop entertainment and education."

"It was very well structured and feedback was constantly delivered"

100% of attendees would recommend it to a friend

100% of attendees would be interested in attending future courses.

F or more photos and testionials, please visit https://www.tinyandtall.co.uk/get-involved

Alt text for image: Three women are puppeteering a puppet made out of a cup and a teatowel on top of a table. One woman is young and white, one is young with light brown skin and wears a head scarf, one is an older white woman. They are all focused on the puppet.