Storytelling with Shadow Puppets in Schools

Cockington Primary School, at Torquay in Devon, celebrated this Diwali as part of their project exploring ‘stories that stand the test of time’. The engrossed year 4 students created fabulous shadow puppets, to tell the traditional Hindu story of Rama and Sita, in their own words and images.

Their teacher, Leah Fraser, said that everyone enjoyed the “Wow factor” of my introductory demonstration and that this school workshop was very effective as a project hook, because it was “an interactive, exciting opportunity for the children.”

This picture is of the wicked, multi-headed monster Ravana, who tricks, then kidnaps the goddess Sita, for himself, although she is already married to Rama. (Who of course then rescues her, with the help of an army of monkeys.) I love how the faces show Ravana’s conflicting personalities and we see his cold and glowing broken heart.

Climate Change Workshop

The families who came to our “What’s 1 Degree to Me?” workshop at Dartington in March, were passionate about climate change…. and very inventive.

We started with a discussion, an exchange of ideas and clarification of facts from our climate specialist Harry Jennings. This was followed by frenzied activity from the 3 teams: sketching storyboards, cutting out puppets, experimenting with different materials and images, then rehearsing their scenes.

The finale was performing 3 humorous, thought provoking, scenes covering different aspects of climate change, to each other and a small enthralled audience. (Video to follow when edited)

One participant, Liz Sheldon described it as “A wonderfully creative day, but with great learning opportunity, and for the seriousness of the ‘messages’ to be felt deep down/in the heart.”

You’ll be surprised at what this tree can do!

Light and Shadow school project

A sea of excited faces greeted me at St. Michael’s Primary School, Kingsteignton, South Devon, in February, for our shadow puppetry workshop exploring the qualities of light and shadow. The year 3 children investigated the interaction of light with colours and textures, along with how to design and perform silhouette art.

I was amazed at how empathic the 7-8 year olds were, able to communicate and recognise emotions solely by the movements of each others’ simple, non-articulated puppets!

It was a pleasure to share the magic of shadow play with such an attentive group, who all created and performed their own shadow puppets by the end of the day.

Flower Fox by a year 3 student

Shadows and Soil - Community Art

Tess Wilmot from “Growing Community Abundance” invited us to deliver Light Bulb Fantastic’s “Our Soil is Alive” shadow puppet activity for adults and children who make their own soil in the city, just from neighbours’ kitchen waste!

This is what Tess had to say after the workshop….

“Light Bulb Fantastic came to Food Plymouth’s Growing Community Abundance celebration event on 22nd February 2020 and made the event magical! People of all ages and interests worked together and enjoyed the conversations about the soil and the amazing creatures that live in it. Highly recommended the creativity that comes from making shadow puppets together.”

At the end of the day we were treated to a shared supper of the delicious home produce grown from the community’s own soil! Yummy!

Shadow Puppets for Schools

When Ian Crowford from Plymouth Academy of Creative Arts asked me to deliver a workshop for his year 5 students that would “push their expectations and provide an insight into what ‘Great’ looked like” I was delighted to oblige.

The 9 to 10 year olds had previously created basic shadow puppets and now wanted inspiration to develop their skills for a special shadow puppet show to be part of the 2020 Mayflower celebrations in Plymouth.

I felt such a buzz from the kids, sharing our excitement about the creative process, as we explored design, articulation, lighting and performance skills. The class teacher, Ian, said that he learnt from “The professionalism of the show and the mechanics needed to build it from scratch!” and enjoyed “Seeing how ALL the children engaged with it!”

Next year the school want to book 2 days instead of 1, Ian describing the workshop as “Wonderful, an absolute must if you’re creating your own show!”

This lighting effect from my demo was a “wow!” with the children

"What's 1 Degree to Me?"

Adults and children will explore the causes of climate change, its effects and what we can do about it, in a
fun, informative, creative, self-expressive, shadow puppetry workshop.

We will address common questions and explore misconceptions that participants may have.  Small teams will then create their own shadow puppets and scenes, focussing on their chosen aspect of global warming.

Space kindly donated by Meadowbrook Community Centre, who are opening a brand new artisan pizza restaurant on site in time for the workshop!

Only 20 places available so book soon, via the contacts page or by calling Kate on 07977 777 869.

This workshop is also available to book for your events.

"Our Soil is Alive" in Plymouth

Come along to a free, drop-in shadow puppet workshop discovering the wonderful creatures that live in a healthy soil and how they are affected by the activities of humans above them! Make your own puppets of such amazing characters as tardigrades, springtails and rotifers. For the finale you are welcome join in with a short performance at the end!

Abby Girl and the Magic Pig

Much fun was had over the Christmas holidays with SPLASH (Special Play and Learning Activities in the School Holidays) at Buckfastleigh, Devon. Children with special educational needs made their own shadow puppets, then created a story for their characters to perform…”Abby Girl and the Magic Pig” (pictured, who would make a rather rougish wasp!)….

….Abby was playing happily in the forest with her friends the animals, when a wicked goblin attacked! The animals chanted for their Indian God, swirling brightly coloured lights filled the screen, exotic music could be heard and the Indian God appeared! She summoned Magic Pig, who carried the animals to safety on his back and they all lived happily ever after….except the mean old goblin. (The children refused to let him be nice in the end!)

Even for participants without the ability to make or perform their own puppets, their faces lit up with huge smiles and laughter as they watched their friends’ show.

Climate Change Awareness Film

Following on from our workshop in August, Light Bulb Fantastic has been inspired to make a short, gentle, thought provoking film addressing some of the common questions that we have about climate change. Currently we are recording the voices of a variety of people, from environmental experts to some of the young people whose future is in peril. These words will form the backbone of the narration. Adding shadow puppetry, we are looking at new ways to visualise the changes that we cannot see in the world around us.

The more I learn about climate change, the more complex I realise it is, so this film will focus on exploring the evidence that global warming is caused by human activity, discuss popular misconceptions and explain why we need to take action now. What that action needs to be, would have to be covered in another film. It is included in our shadow puppetry workshop.

Creative Climate Awareness Workshop

Researching for this workshop I am focusing on understanding the science behind the climate change headlines. I am designing the workshop so that participants can engage at a deeper level, using shadow puppetry to devise visual representations of the problems that we face globally.

The second part of the workshop will be facilitated by Tiffany Strawson of Totnes Young Peoples’ Theatre, who will use live action theatre to explore the personal effects of climate change and what we, as individuals can do about it.

Devon & Plymouth Racial Equality Council

“This is me!” Aquila said, when she picked up my puppet of the asylum seeker. It was so significant to her that I had to let her keep it.

Most of the ladies attending our workshop at Devon & Plymouth Racial Equality Council have experienced rascism, displacement from their homes and/or other great trauma, so I was surprised and delighted by the way they enthusiastically embraced shadow puppet making. The morning was filled with enchantment, creativity and laughter. I feel humbled and full of respect for the women that I met while working with Vanessa Crosse at DPREC.

Greek heros and monsters come alive

This week Light Bulb Fantastic helped year 3 and 4 children at Landscore Primary School, at Crediton, in Devon to bring their Greek myths alive. The students had written their own tales of what Heracles 13th task might have been.

Teacher Mei-Lin Houston said that the best part was “Being able to make their stories into real performances” and “their monsters into puppets”.

Students explored different skills. One child who struggles with written work in class, narrated a whole scene, from memory, described in a rich language that his teachers did not know he had.

The classroom was buzzing with excitement. I agree with teaching assistant, Karen Kirby, who said that the best part was “Their proud little faces when they put on their shows”

Stay Safe Online

Teenagers with special educational needs explore internet safety using shadow puppets. Here the puppet has two new online friends, but are they who they seem to be?  Can either of them be trusted?

During the first of two workshops for Lifeworks at Dartington, in Devon, members of the Kool Club made puppets, discussed and performed scenes around the topics of: passwords, sexting, Childline, Facebook and blocking unpleasant people.

The Lucky Lamb

Adults with learning disabilities at Stairways in Ivybridge, Devon, created their own puppets and wrote this exciting story about the adventures of a lamb who fell off a cliff.  During the workshop they developed skills in design, dexterity, imagination and teamwork. When I played background classical music for their performance, a beautiful atmosphere of calm enchantment came over us all.

Collaboration

Backstage at Dartington, in Devon, where we performed "Dreams before Dawn" in collaboration with the talented Totnes Young People's Theatre.  On stage the actors are debating inside the mysterious Turtle Island Tavern, while the puppet screen reveals the action outside as the terrified Brian makes his unwise decision, to escape in the rowing boat out across they bay.....

"Dreams before Dawn"

We are excited about combining live action with shadow puppets, for a collaborative performance tomorrow with Totnes Young People's Theatre.  This devised piece tells a tale of a ship wreck and mermaids seeking revenge for humans' pollution of the seas.  Even the dolphins are angry ..."and it takes a lot to annoy a dolphin!"

Accessible Theatre this Christmas

We have been delivering a series of festive workshops for the lovely Animate Theatre, in Plymouth, who provide drama experiences for people with a variety of disabilities.

Over 5 sessions participants: experimented with puppetry skills like how to express emotions, wrote original Christmas themed scripts,  played with lighting effects and music, made their own wonderful puppets, props and scenery.

At the 6th session the air was buzzing, everyone had a part to play, as the Animate Theatre Company performed their four festive stories, to a delighted audience of friends and families.

Participants' and carers' feedback:

"Identified the SU's needs and delivered well"

"A workshop that provides socialising, cognitive, manual skills etc with an outstanding finale in the show"

"We smiled from start to finish"

"Makes me feel better with meeting all people"

Woodland Creatures Workshop

The wood Fair was great fun, young and old enjoyed creating a woodland scene together, bringing it alive with their charming shadow puppets.  One family decided to throw out their TV and get a shadow puppet stage instead!

Wood Fair

Create your own woodland animal or animated tree with Light Bulb Fantastic at Sustainable South Brent's Wood Fair.  This shadow puppet workshop will be from 12.30 to 1.30pm, on Saturday 9th September, at the village hall in South Brent, Devon.  Upstairs but there is a lift. Entry is free and there will be lots of other tree related activities and displays.