SKIPTON Puppet Festival invites people to join in with three different workshop classes which start at the weekend.

During August there are two different online zoom workshops, one for adults interested in puppet making and the other for young families.

The first is an animal table-top puppet workshop with puppet maker Judith Hope, taking place for one hour per day over four days on August 9, 10, 11 and 12. Participants will learn how to design and construct a four-legged animal table-top puppet using easily sourced materials and simple tools.

Liz Lempen, of Lempen Puppet Theatre Company said: “This is a great workshop for puppeteers, teachers, artists, and anybody who is interested in using puppets. Over the lockdown period Judith has been delivering her finely tuned zoom classes to participants all over the world and her courses have been much sought after. Participants are also invited to join a facebook group to share outcomes and learning to support them afterwards.”

The second workshop ‘The Creature that Nobody Saw’, is for families with young children (suggested ages 5 – 8) and takes place over three short Zoom sessions on August 10, 17 and 25. Garlic Theatre aims to inspire young children and spark their creativity. Showing three short films in different Zoom sessions over three weeks families will be guided and encouraged to create their own mini puppet show at home to share with friends. The films shown are without words about a strange creature living in a den in the house and going on a little adventure. This will be a great summer holiday project for families.

With both workshops the sessions are demonstration, teaching, guidance, and the actual making will be done in participants own time offline.

In September there will be an actual live Master-class workshop for artists and creatives taking place at Skipton Town Hall new community space from September 6 to 10. Expert puppet carver and teacher John Roberts from Devon-based Puppetcraft will run a five-day residency teaching how to carve a simple marionette. John has taught puppet carving for over 30 years, is the author of two books of puppet construction and his courses are in high demand. He trained at The Little Angel Theatre under master puppeteer John Wright, and in China. With a maximum of six participants this will be a very focused high-quality course.

More details of these workshops and other performances and activities can be found on the festival website www.skiptonpuppetfestival.co.uk

And the festival 2021 activities http://www.skiptonpuppetfestival.co.uk/page53.html