Afterschool Puppet Club
Ahoy there!
The Puppet Theatre Barge and the Floating Classroom have teamed up to offer a fun, free creative project for children aged 7 – 12 attending schools that participate in the Westminster Children’s University extra-curricular activities programme.
Discover the art of puppetry with hands-on workshops and live performances. At the end of the course, children will receive a nationally recognised Arts Award qualification.
Over five weeks, children will learn about and create three different types of puppet, see two professional puppet shows, and enjoy a trip on the canal.
Parents, carers, family and friends are invited to join us for the professional shows in the first and final week of the project.
The Afterschool Puppet Club will take place on the Floating Classroom in Paddington from 4pm – 6pm on:
Week 1: Wednesday 22nd February
Together we will watch a performance on the Puppet Barge called Hanging by a Thread by award winning Italian puppet company Di Filippo Marionette. After the show we will ‘meet the puppets’ and have the chance to ask the cast questions.
Week 2: Wednesday 1st March
Introducing the art of shadow puppetry! Participants will get the chance to see some shadow puppets up close and learn how to make them. Everyone will come away with their own puppet. Plus we’ll be taking the boat out for a spin while the session takes place!
Week 3: Wednesday 8th March
Introducing the art or string puppetry! Participants will get a chance to make their own simple marionette (string puppet) to take home at the end of the session.
Week 4: Wednesday 15th March
Introducing the art of theatre masks! Participants will get a chance to make and decorate their own mask which they can take home at the end of the session.
Week 5: Wednesday 22nd March
Together we will watch a performance of The Blue Pool of Questions, a brand new Puppet Barge production in collaboration with Palestinian artists. This show is a celebration of cross-cultural friendship and is performed in a blend of Arabic and English.
Children need to be able to attend all 5 weeks of the project to take part.