Our residencies last between 3 to 10 days, depending on the amount of the children. Whether it’s 40 or 700 children, all of them will be involved in a spectacular show that celebrates and animates a story from a world culture. We have a huge amount of experience in staging these events. And some of them very big indeed including setting a world record in 2002. http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/family_friendly/puppet_show_record.shtml
Scale can have an impact but more vital is the motivation brought to and joy found in their creativity by the children. And how much we can inspire the children and the whole school community and that is why every project is bespoke – our methodology is rigorous preparation coupled with responsive in-the-moment, high quality materials in tandem with recycled and easily accessible materials and a most excellent and creative, collaborative team of artists. Our 7 needs are simple but precise:
1. Dedicated use of a hall or larger than classroom space to make the puppets
with the children.
2. Tables for making, electricity and a nearby water source
3. Dedicated hall for the day of rehearsal and the performance day.
4. Staff buy in – there is a correlation between staff involvement in the
workshops and back in class and the impact for the children
5. Punctuality – our residencies are authentic challenges. The time spent is fully utilised. So time spent in the making and rehearsing is precious to a smooth process and a successful outcome.
6. On first time visits we like to do a site visit and meet the lead on the project and if possible, all the staff for a short introduction
7. Children! We like to give each class their own half-day making workshop.
Here are last year’s residencies to give you an idea of the scope, variety and time-scales.
2018
ST PAULS PRIMARY, THAMES DITTON – 4 Days, Years 3 and 5
120 Children Sun Ra and Apep (Egypt)
12 th annual visit
THE STUDY GIRLS SCHOOL, WIMBLEDON, LONDON – 5 Days All Key Stage 2
200 Children Mud on Turtle’s Back (N. America)
4 th Tri- annual visit
FALCON BOYS PREP, RICHMOND, LONDON – 4 days Years 3, 4 and 5
100 children Mud on Turtle’s Back (N. America)
6 th annual visit
ST LEONARDS PRIMARY SCHOOL, EXETER, DEVON – 15 days, Whole School
600 children The Wish Fish (see Funded Projects)
1st visit
ZURICH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, SWITZERLAND – 5 Days, Year 2
90 children The Amazing Counting Festival
4 th annual visit
RUSHCOMBE FIRST SCHOOL, DORSET – 13 days , Reception to Year 4
300 Children Rainbow of Love (see funded projects)
5 th annual visit
CHEPSTOW HOUSE, LADBROKE GROVE, LONDON – 5 days, Years 2, 5and 6
180 Children Huracan and Feathered Serpent (Central America)
First Visit
FAWCETT PRIMARY, CAMBRIDGE – 5 days, All of Key Stage 2
250 children The Rainbow Serpent (Australia)
First Visit
TOLWORTH PRIMARY SCHOOL, KINGSTON, LONDON – 5 days, Years 3 and 6
180 children Sun Ra and Apep (Egypt)
GOETHE SCHOOL, BOLZANO, ITALY – 3 days, Years 4 and 5
7O Children The Rainbow Serpent (Australia)
NEWTON ABBOT, DEVON – 6 days, Years 4, 5 and 6 from eight primary schools
250 children Up in The Air (See Processions)
This year we will be at St Pauls, The World Flora Exposition in Taiwan, Rushcombe for an educationally innovative project John F Kennedy School in Gstaad, Switzerland, opening procession for the Bristol Puppet Festival, making a huge show combining two schools in Cambridge and back to Tolworth, Bolzano before the Christmas procession in Newton Abbot.