Get Curious
Welcome to Curious School of Puppetry's Get Curious programme - a unique opportunity for artists and theatre makers curious about puppetry to explore and expand their skills! Our programme provides a safe and welcoming space for those who wants to dip their toes in the water and try out puppetry.
At Curious School of Puppetry, we believe that diversifying thought is crucial to developing a rich and inclusive puppetry sector in the UK. To this end, our Get Curious programme features online workshops that welcome international applicants, free in-person workshops around the country exclusively for Global Majority practitioners and our Collaboration Grants programme for Global Majority puppetry creatives looking to collaborate across art forms. We also offer taster workshops that are open to everyone, so no matter your background or level of experience, you're welcome to join us and explore the world of puppetry!
Our friendly and experienced tutors will guide you through the basics of puppetry, teaching you how to bring characters to life using different techniques and styles. You'll have the opportunity to meet like-minded artists, exchange ideas, and learn from each other in a supportive environment. So why not take the first step and get curious with us? We can't wait to welcome you to the world of puppetry!
Collab Grants is aimed at fostering collaboration between global majority puppetry creatives and artists from other art forms. It is a unique opportunity for artist pairs to explore the possibilities of puppetry in relationship with another creative practice. We are particularly interested in supporting the development of early-stage ideas.
Our aim is to provide a platform for artists to connect and collaborate, to share their knowledge and skills, and to create something that transcends their individual disciplines. This is a process-centred project and is not outcome-based, meaning that there is no pressure to produce a finished product. Instead, we want to encourage exploration, experimentation, and risk-taking.
The Collab Grants project is open to global majority puppetry creatives and artists from any other art form, regardless of their level of experience or background. We believe that everyone has something valuable to contribute and that collaboration is the key to unlocking our creative potential.
Previous Collab Grant recipients include:
Puppeteer Zhaolin Zhou in collaboration with sound artist Tingying Dong to develop 'Walking Cats' exploring connections between puppetry and sound design.
Puppeteer Saya Naruse in collaboration with dancer Lila Naruse to combine puppetry with dance/movement theatre and to explore human connections & relationships with Nature and the Climate Crisis through elements inspired by Japanese folklore.
Puppeteer Shakara Carter collaboration with director / dramaturg JaÏrus Obayomi
POGM interdisciplinary workshops are a touring programme of one-day long workshops for Global Majority artists. These workshops tour around the UK, partnering with various organisations, we have delivered workshops in Leeds, Bradford Leicester and London. Each workshop is led by an experienced puppetry practitioner in collaboration with an artist with a different discipline. Some examples of previous workshops include 'Poetry x Puppetry' and 'World Building x Puppetry'.
At the core of these workshops lies our mission: to bolster and solidify the national puppetry community. We aspire not just to teach, but to weave a network of passionate artists, sharing, learning, and growing together.
Curious School of Puppetry's Online Training, centres the methods of puppetry expert Rene Baker. Dive deep into her teachings from anywhere in the world. A global learning experience awaits – international participants highly encouraged.
Experience the magic of puppetry with Curious School of Puppetry's Taster Workshops. Ideal for community groups, theatres, educational facilities, and creative folk new to and curious about puppetry. Interested in hosting? Get in touch!