Monday to Friday, January 9-13, 2023, at the Maison internationale des arts de la marionnette (MIAM), Montréal

Starting from a meaningful resource (existing text, music, significant objects, etc.), the participants work on a short ten-minute number where the notions of dramaturgy, scenic writing, puppet prototyping, in short all the aspects of creating a show will be addressed. At the end of the week, the participants will present the result of their work, a fairly advanced sketch of their act.

The working method used at Pupulus Mordicus and Ubus Théâtre, developed for more than twenty-five years, will be applied. The workshop leader will start each day with a small masterclass on the concepts discussed during the day.

Visit Pupulus Mordicus’ website

Monday to Friday, May 1-5, 2023, at The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, Calgary

This five-day workshop will embrace stage-two of an international collaboration between Maria Tri Sulistyani of Papermoon Puppet Theatre (Yogyakarta, Indonesia), and Peter Balkwill of The Old Trout Puppet Workshop (Calgary, Alberta). In residence at the studio of the Old Trout Puppet Workshop; the five-day workshop will explore physical connections to the art of puppet manipulation through the conduit of full-character mask, as well as the tangible quality of various material objects, in the pursuit of expanding the puppeteer’s understanding of holistic approaches toward puppet-performance.

In addition to the pragmatic application of puppetry the workshop will also explore the landscape of Indonesian and Canadian performance traditions to facilitate the possibility of intercultural exchange. Additional instructors include: Randi Edmundson of Little Onion Puppet Co. (Vancouver, BC) and Dr. Gabrielle Houle, (Adjunct Professor – University of Lethbridge).

Visit The Old Trout Puppet Workshop’s website

Monday to Friday, May 15-19, 2023, at the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, Windsor

Mermaid Theatre will provide a platform where participants are free to explore the art of puppetry, and related object movement techniques, in a safe, nurturing, and challenging environment.

Through a series of carefully designed exercises , workshop participants will glean important puppetry knowledge and technical skills, while working both independently and collaboratively, ultimately developing finished pieces using puppets participants have designed themselves. This training will not only enhance existing knowledge and ability, but also foster new skills related to this exciting performance art form.

Visit Mermaid Theatre’s website

From Monday to Friday, 5-9 and 12-16, 2023, at the Toronto School of Puppetry, Toronto

This program is designed to inspire understanding of puppetry as a theatrical form, and to integrate this understanding into the practice of visual performance. In the first week, participants will explore elements of puppet design, construction and performance, with additional sessions on elements important in the creation of puppet theatre: music and sound effects, story planning and scripting techniques, direction, choreography and improvisation.

In the second week, under the guidance of Ann, David and one guest director, participants will develop a short piece for performance as an overview of the creative process, Participants will take part in the full gamut of activities required to go from page to stage, as they immerse themselves in Puppetmongers Theatre’s innovative methods of puppet design and fabrication.

Visit Puppetmongers Theatre’s website