Short Courses for Adults

Introduction to Puppet Making

Key Information
  • Suitable for

    Beginner, age 18+
  • Dates

    Monday 20th  – Wednesday 22nd  April 2026
  • Tuition

    Full-time
  • Location

    Downside Road, Bristol
  • Cost

    £370
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Overview

This three-day introductory course invites you to step into the craft of puppet making and to invest time in your own creativity and practical skills.

Guided by an experienced maker, you will be supported to explore ideas with your hands as well as your imagination, discovering how simple materials can be transformed into expressive characters. The course offers a welcoming space to slow down, experiment, and build confidence through making, progressing from a first simple puppet to a more considered piece that reflects your own interests and style. By the end of the three days you will leave not only with handmade puppets, but with new ways of thinking about design, storytelling, and your own creative potential.

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Highlights

DAY 1 – Introduction & Simple Puppet Build

  • Understanding the significance of puppetry in TV and theatre
  • Insight into the creative processes behind puppet making
  • Introduction to core principles of puppet design
  • Exploration of materials and basic construction techniques
  • Hands-on creation of a simple puppet to introduce form, movement, and expression

 

DAY 2 – Design Development & Techniques

  • Developing character and storytelling through design
  • Experimenting with different materials and fabrication methods
  • Guidance on selecting appropriate techniques for various puppet styles
  • Introduction to mechanisms for movement and expression
  • Begin construction of a more sophisticated puppet project

 

DAY 3 – Advanced Build & Performance Skills

  • Completing the advanced puppet build
  • Understanding nuance in puppet manipulation and performance
  • Tips on creating dynamic, expressive movement
  • Discussion of puppetry’s contribution to professional TV and theatre productions
  • Final sharing and reflection
  • Participants take home all puppets created during the course

Course Leader

  • Short Courses Refund Policy

    If you wish to cancel your place on the course, you will receive a full refund if you notify the school at least 7 days prior to the start of the course. For cancellations, contact [email protected]
  • Short Course Cancellation Policy

    We will make all reasonable efforts to deliver a short course as outlined on our site and in any brochure or published material. However, we reserve the right to cancel a short course in case of events outside our control or if the course fails to meet a minimum number of participants. In the event that we cancel a course, we will inform participants who have booked a place via email at least 7 days prior to the start date. We will also provide a full refund of the course fee paid. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School cannot be held responsible for any expenses you incur due to such a cancellation.
  • UWE Accommodation Offering

    Students training on a BOVTS summer course can enquire about Summer UWE accommodation availability. Enquiries can be emailed to [email protected] and the Accommodation Team will confirm availability and costings.
  • Policies and Procedures