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22nd June 2026
Are you a passionate puppet maker? A practical prop crafter? Crazy about costume making? Then one of our creative courses might just be for you this summer.
1. Creative Bristol
Did you know that Bristol has the highest concentration of Creatives outside of London? Between our puppet festivals, circus events and rich theatre & music scenes, Bristol’s creative skills are in abundance. But it’s not just Bristol students that come to our short courses, we have people who travel from all over to learn a new theatre making skill, or upskill on their passion.
2. Courses booking fast!
It’s no surprise then, that this year’s hands-on courses have been a success here at the School. Earlier this year, we sold-out of space on our wonderful puppet-making course led by Merial Pym which saw students create Avenue Q style puppets. Our popular Design A Play in 5 days course, led by Head of Performance Design Bronia Housman is back by popular demand. We have now released a second date for our Prop Making & Sculpture course led by our Head of Prop making tutor, Louise Thomas.
3. Core skills unlocked
There’s nothing quite like learning a practical skill and seeing your imagination come to life is a feeling you can’t describe. From mind to paper, to creation – the whole process is a dream come to life. It’s also a fantastic way to communicate and share ideas with your community, bouncing ideas and collaborating on project is what being a creative is all about.
Which course will you choose this summer?
Design A Play in 5 Days: Over five days, you will be immersed in the design studios at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, working closely with our Head of Design, as well as visiting specialists. You’ll delve into the process of shaping designs tailored to a given text, refining your craft and realising your creative vision. BOOK NOW
Prop Making & Sculpture (second date added due to popular demand): This practical, hands-on course explores the diverse and imaginative world of prop making and sculpture. Across 4 intensive days, you’ll gain an insight into professional prop-making processes used in theatre, film, and art production industries, while developing your own creative ideas into finished pieces. BOOK NOW
Designers Development Programme – Costume Level 1: This ten-week introductory programme offers a practical and creative introduction to the process of costume design for theatre and screen. Working from a set play provided in week one, learners will explore how text, character, and historical context shape visual design choices. BOOK NOW
Are you a budding Performance Designer? Our MA in Performance Design course applications have reopened! Apply by July 20th.
Want to see what our current graduates are up to? Visit our Graduate Exhibition at Sparks between July 1-4