Two Days of Puppetry Magic at BACA
Last week, I had the absolute joy of working with ten talented young people at the Braidwood Academy of Creative Arts for a two-day intensive puppetry workshop. Over the course of the weekend, the studio buzzed with imagination, collaboration, and the timeless magic of puppets coming to life.
Participants proudly showcasing their puppet creations made from found and recycled materials.
Day One: Learning the Craft
On the first day, students were introduced to the fascinating world of puppetry through a hands-on exploration of different styles. Together, we worked with marionettes, glove puppets, hand and rod puppets, as well as larger creations that required multiple puppeteers to bring them to life. Using my own class sets of puppets, the students practiced techniques for movement, expression, and storytelling. It was incredible to see how quickly they picked up the skills and began experimenting with character and personality in their performances.
Day Two: Creating, Rehearsing, Performing
On the second day, it was time for the students to become puppet makers and performers themselves. Drawing inspiration from the techniques they’d learned, they designed and built their own unique puppets using found and recycled materials. With just a few supplies and plenty of creativity, a whole cast of original characters emerged.
Once their puppets were ready, the group split into small teams to write and rehearse short skits. The rehearsal room was full of laughter, problem-solving, and bursts of inspiration as each team prepared their story. By the afternoon, they were ready to share their work.
A Joyful Showcase
The workshop culminated in a performance for an audience of supportive family and friends. Each group presented their puppets, explained how they had been made, and performed their original skits as well as a group performance. The room was filled with smiles and applause as the young puppeteers proudly brought their creations to life on stage. I had the privilege of directing the show, but it was the students’ creativity, teamwork, and confidence that truly made the performance shine.
Workshops like these remind me why I love teaching puppetry—it combines art, performance, craft, and storytelling, while also giving young people the chance to build confidence and express themselves in new ways.
A heartfelt thank you to the Braidwood Academy of Creative Arts for hosting me, and to the wonderful students and families who made the weekend such a special experience.
Young puppeteers performing a group song with hand-rod puppets together as the finale to their showcase performance.