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Workshops at Horse + Bamboo Theatre: for young people and for professional training.
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1. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME: We are currently offering two programmes of professional training in 2010.
a) CARVING A WOODEN PUPPET with John Roberts.
July 5th - 9th; 10.00am - 5.30pm each day. Cost £325.00.
b) TAKING THE LEAP with Loz Kaye and Mark Whitaker.
July 12th - 16th; 10.00am - 5.30pm each day. Cost £250.00.
NUMBERS ARE STRICTLY LIMITED ON EACH COURSE; SO BOOK EARLY TO CONFIRM YOUR PLACE.
MORE DETAILS 0N THE COURSES ARE BELOW.......
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CARVE A WOODEN PUPPET; July 5th - 9th
Instructor: John Roberts
At: The Boo, Waterfoot
Provided:
All tools, wood and other odds and ends will be supplied.
Tea and coffee and juice will be provided.
Aspects that will be covered:
Design of a puppet; Safe handling of tools; Working with wood; Sharpening the chisels; Construction techniques that produce a puppet that really works!
John Roberts must be one of the most experienced course leaders in Europe having run carving courses every year since 1980 and the ONLY non-Chinese person to learn traditional Chinese string puppet secrets during 7 months study in China. He has run workshops, internationally - in Sweden, Zimbabwe, America and Japan. His puppets are some of the finest in Britain.
Method.
The methods used are versatile, fast and require minimum tools or equipment...... you can use this method without the need for a bench, vice or electrical tools.... using only a sturdy table and some hand tools.
It is unique combination of Chinese and European puppet techniques.
i.e. Freehand carving using very fine chisels is done in China with no pre-design or cutting out of the wood. John has combined this very fast technique with the more considered method used throughout Europe - designing a puppet first on paper.... transferring this to the wood .... using a saw to cut accurate profiles before carving begins.
All tools will be provided. Some specialist tools will be available for sale at the end of the week.
The week is planned to suit your needs.
The days will be as intensive or relaxed as you choose to make it..... there will be beginners and experienced makers... but by keeping the numbers down, individual needs will be catered for.
Each person's level of skill, aim and speed-of-working can be accommodated. You could aim to make a complete puppet ... which is a lot to do within the week... or you can work at a more leisurely pace. You should at least go away with all the bits and knowledge to complete a truly unique and beautiful puppet.
This is a course for adults: not for anyone under 18 years old.
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TAKING THE LEAP; July 12th - 16th
Instructors: Loz Kaye, Mark Whitaker
At: The Boo, Waterfoot
This is a rare opportunity to train with Horse + Bamboo's Associate Artists Loz Kaye and Mark Whitaker. This intensive performance-based week course will introduce participants to Horse + Bamboo's current working practices and give a unique behind the scenes look at how the show 'Little Leap Forward' was put together. You will come away with a raft of new tools for creating your own work or teaching, and a healthy dose of inspiration from what Jane Horrocks describes as 'this must see company'.
The work will have three focuses - mask, puppetry and space. We will explore performance techniques for Horse + Bamboo's characteristic helmet masks- physical characterisation, the reveal, energy, tempo, internal monologue. 'Little Leap Forward' has a rich variety of puppetry techniques which we will work with - multiple person operated tabletop puppets, chinese style hand puppets and whole body shadow puppetry which we developed at our base at the Boo. We will also get to grips with some of the fundamental principles of object theatre, the relationship of the puppeteer to the object and the notion of animation and transfer of energy.
Finally, we will introduce the latest performance techniques Horse + Bamboo have been developing in shows like 'Deep Time Cabaret'. This is the idea that the animation of the whole performing space is a type of puppetry. We will look at how objects, light, sound and video become an extension of performance rhythm, and how changes of physical scale can become a playful part of storytelling.
The masterclass will take one of the current shows from the repertoire: 'Little Leap Forward' as its focus. This moving account of the true story of Guo Yue's childhood in Cultural Revolution Beijing gained 4 stars in Lyn Gardner's Guardian review.. (quote?)
We will use this as a way of showing how technique can be put in to practice. There will also be a chance to meet the show's director Alison Duddle, and gain insight in to Horse + Bamboo's working process, and how we transformed this book in to a stage work.
So, take the leap in to the fascinating theatrical universe of Horse + Bamboo.
“Full of Simple Beauty and Grace” The Guardian
Loz Kaye is Associate Artist specialising in composition, and musical director of 'Little Leap Forward'. He has been connected with Horse + Bamboo since 1994, performing in and writing music for many of their shows in that time, as well as running many mask workshops. Other theatre credits include Trestle Theatre, Full Body + the Voice and Thalia's Tjenere (Denmark's only professional mask theatre company). Loz Kaye has also taught widely, and is currently guest lecturer on the Dance and Physical Theatre programme at Salford University.
Mark Whitaker is Associate Artist specialising in puppetry for Horse + Bamboo, and a cast member of 'Little Leap Forward'. He has been working as a puppeteer and mask performer for the last 21 years with companies including Playboard Puppets, Norwich Puppet Theatre, Little Angel Theatre, Pop-Up Puppet Theatre, Aardman Animations and Opera North.
He has worked in Mainland Europe, Canada, Brazil and Mexico and has toured extensively in the UK.
As well as performing, Mark has worked as a director, puppet maker and workshop leader. He has also worked with several theatre companies as a puppet movement consultant.
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For further information on these Professional Courses -
Contact: alison@horseandbamboo.org or call 01706 242943
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2. FOR YOUNG PEOPLE: Bring your class to the Boo - home of award winning Horse + Bamboo Theatre and the North West’s centre for masks and puppetry. Visits can include:
* Visit to the mask and puppet treasure house
* Performing with masks
*Hands-on experience of mask
making
*Shadow puppetry/play with light and shadow
Puppetry
* UV Puppets
Contact: alison@horseandbamboo.org or call 01706 242943
All age groups can be catered for.
Full school day visit - £350
Half day visit - £250
