Masterclasses for adults
(16 yrs+)
Three approaches to creating expressive puppet heads — and the knowledge to select the best technique for your project.
This hands-on workshop demonstrates direct modelling with aluminium foil and foam clay, the principles of sculpt/mould/cast methods, and modern 3D digital fabrication running live. Participants learn the time, materials, and skill demands involved — plus the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
Everyone builds a foil-and-clay head to take home, while a 3D printer simultaneously displays a digital workflow.
Leave with a completed puppet head and a decision-making framework that will inform every build you attempt.
Come and join Moon Shadow Studio’s shadow puppetry and play masterclass! In this workshop, visual artist Youbi Lee and performer-writer Taka Takiguchi will share their collaborative development process, blending multidisciplinary artistic approaches to explore themes of time, memory, place, and language.
Focusing on the untold stories within ourselves, we will explore how to visualize, color, and mobilize these narratives to create truly original and engaging shadow puppetry.
No prior puppetry or performance experience is required. If you already have experience, this is a wonderful opportunity to tailor the workshop to your ongoing projects.
Jacob Williams is one of Australia’s premier puppeteers and puppetry directors. He is Co-Artistic Director of Lemony S Puppet Theatre and is also puppetry director for ‘Bluey’s Big Play’. In these roles he has developed a world-class puppetry training method and has trained over 100 puppeteers across the world.
Join Jacob for this masterclass in manipulation. Styles include hand and rod and bunraku puppets.
Joe Blanck is a creature designer, puppet maker and Creative Director at A Blanck Canvas. He has more than 20 years of experience bringing large-scale puppets, characters and immersive performance objects to life.
Joe leads a team specialising in puppets, creature builds and props for theatre, television, stadium shows and major public events. His work combines scenic art, fabrication, movement, performance and storytelling to create memorable characters and theatrical experiences that connect with audiences.
In this masterclass, Joe will share his approach to taking a design from initial idea to fully realised puppet or creature, offering insight into his creative process, workshop methods, collaboration and problem-solving.
Bring in an idea for a roving puppet to explore under Joe’s guidance.
