Shadow Mechanism

This is a hands-on course where participants will get to make their own shadow puppet mechanism, full puppets will not be built in this course, instead we focus on building mechanical systems that can be integrated into future puppets.

Introduction to mechanisms

10-11

First I will run through a crash course on practical engineering for shadow puppetry. I will give tips on how to visualise what needs to be made based on your end goal and provide a cheat sheet of common engineering terms and resources to help learning beyond this class. I will also introduce the class to my "Mechanism Book" a personal library of cardboard mechanisms for inspiration and reference.

Assemble 2-3 pre-designed mechanisms

11-1

Second, we will take 2 hours to work though a few pre-designed mechanisms. Not only will this guarantee that each student leaves the class with a couple of working mechanisms for their own future reference, but it will give my assistant and I time to teach about the tools we use for the design and building process.

Lunch

1:00-1:45

We ask that all students leave the classroom while we have a tidy and lay out the materials for the second half of the class. There are a couple of places to get a quick sandwich or cup of coffee a minute walk from puppet place. We also have a lovely garden that students can sit and have lunch in.

Build your own puppet

1:45-4:30

The second half of the class is devoted entirely to helping the students work through mechanisms they want to put into their own puppets. We recommend students come with an idea of a character's movement they would like to capture in their shadow puppet. You will be supplied with tools like hot glue guns, scissors, pliers and scalpels, and materials like pins, card stock, fabric, string and springs. Mechanisms can be as complicated or as simple as you want, it is not a requirement that students be confident or even familiar with these tools and materials.

Show and Tell

4:30-5:00

The last half-hour is reserved as a show and tell. With so much of the class focused on individual work it is an important and inspiring moment to see how others students will have approached their own mechanical challenges. As students you are not required to show your puppets if you do not wish to.

Workshop Teacher Bio

I am Izzy Bristow, a puppet maker and educator with experience across the puppet spectrum, from Muppets to life sized dinosaurs, from international tours to heirloom restoration there is little that puppetry has to offer that I haven't seen. Shadow Puppets became a special interest during the pandemic and I have spent a lot of my free time in the last 5 years learning about their history and how they are made. I love teaching about them and hope you learn to love them too!