Isabel has a background in theatre and live events, she has been building puppets, props, and sets for over 11 years. After training as a puppet maker and puppeteer at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2012, she went on to work freelance with a wide range of clients — from Handspring’s majestic War Horse puppets to creating character costumes for pantomimes at the London Palladium.

Isabel later founded Paper Jungle, which specialises in creating highly crafted puppets that bring stories to life. Alongside this, she continued her training as a 3D designer whilst completing an MA at the University of the West of England. She remains continually fascinated by the power of puppets to capture emotion and transform people’s imaginations.

Follow Isabel on Instagram HERE
See more of her work HERE

A hands-on two-day course teaching clay character sculpting and 3D pattern making for lightweight, durable puppets and props.

This practical two-day workshop will guide you through the process of transforming a design into a three-dimensional sculpture and developing a 3D pattern from your sculpt. We’ll focus on creating a puppet head using Worbla—a non-toxic thermoplastic widely used in the prop-making industry.

By the end of the course, you’ll have gained a strong foundation in three-dimensional making and the technical skills needed to construct lightweight, durable puppet heads.

Programme

Tuesday 24 February, 7-8pm: Puppet Design (Online)
Saturday 28th February, 10am-4pm: Hands-on Making @ Puppet Place 
Sunday 1 March, 10am-4pm: Hands-on Making @ Puppet Place

You Will Learn How To:

• Take accurate, to-scale measurements from your design
• Translate a 2D drawing into a 3D sculpt
• Work confidently with clay
• Create a 3D pattern from a sculpt
• Use Worbla sheet material effectively

Who’s It For?

This workshop is open to people at any stage of their career and is ideal for prop and puppet makers looking to expand their skill set. 3D pattern making is an invaluable technique when creating lightweight yet strong puppets and props. You’ll learn industry-standard making methods, making this course perfect for anyone seeking to develop their professional practice.

What to expect…

You will spend two days (14 & 15 February 2026) making where you will be able to draw from seeing lots of the puppets Isabel has made and soak up the magical atmosphere at Puppet Place, the headquarters for puppetry in the South West! There will also be a one-hour online session at 7pm on 10 February where Isabel will lead you into designing your puppet in preparation for the weekend.

Cost £240 for a two-day in person workshop + an evening Zoom session beforehand. 10% discount if you book before 1 February 2026 with promo code – EARLYBIRD.

To find out more about the workshop and to book your place visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/character-sculpting-3d-pattern-making-tickets-1980478051164?

Suitable for: 18+

In this hands-on course, Isabel will guide you through creating a portable shadow suitcase theatre alongside professional-level shadow puppets.

Over the weekend, you will transform a suitcase into a beautiful shadow puppet theatre, opening up exciting possibilities for touring a shadow puppet show. A suitcase provides the perfect foundation for a strong, lightweight, and portable mini theatre.

Whether you already have an idea for a show, want to use shadow puppetry in educational settings, or are looking to expand your skills as a maker, this course is for you. Join us for an inclusive and enriching learning experience where you’ll gain the essential skills to realise your creative vision. You’ll learn industry-standard making techniques, ideal for anyone looking to continue their professional development.

Programme

Saturday 7 March, 10am-4pm: Puppet Making @ Puppet Place
Sunday 8 March, 10am-4pm: Puppet Making @ Puppet Place

You Will Learn How To:

• Transform a suitcase into a durable, tour-ready set piece
• Create professional-grade shadow puppets with strong, long-lasting joints
• Use different types of light sources for shadow puppetry
• Tell stories through visual imagery
• Confidently and safely use hand tools

BRING YOUR OWN SUITCASE!

Cost £240 for a two-day in person workshop. 10% discount if you book before 1 February 2026 with promo code – EARLYBIRD.

To find out more about the workshop and to book your place visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shadow-suitcase-theatre-building-a-portable-shadow-puppet-show-tickets-1980632244360?

Suitable for: 18+

Join us for a hands-on weekend workshop where you will learn about directing puppetry over two days.

Join Emma Williams, at Puppet Place on Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 April 2026, for a two-day practical puppetry workshop focused on the vital role of the director in live puppetry productions.

This hands-on workshop draws on Emma’s extensive career in puppetry as both director and dramaturge and is an opportunity to work with an industry veteran to explore the magic of puppetry.

What to Expect

Explore Puppetry Techniques: Discover a variety of puppetry styles and techniques, learning how to bring characters to life with dynamic and creative movement.

Animating the Story: Experiment with different methods of storytelling, from grounded and emotional narratives to comedic and absurdist approaches.

Dive into the Director’s Role: Gain insight into the intricate responsibilities of a puppetry director. We will look at shaping performances, working with space and scale, non- verbal and text-based performance. We will look at the obvious and hidden differences when working with puppetry as opposed to live performers and we will examine the theatrical relationship between puppeteer and puppet. To end with, we will create through puppetry a ridiculous and tragic scene and celebrate the failure and success of our efforts.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is designed for creative professionals, performers, and artists with an interest in puppetry and a wish to expand their directing skills. You will learn practical skills, creative techniques, and a fresh perspective on the possibilities of this irreverent and exciting art form.

Are you planning to travel from outside the UK to attend this workshop?

If you are based outside the UK and are planning a special trip to the UK to attend this workshop, please email info@puppetplace.org to find out more and to book your place rather than booking via Eventbrite. Thanks

Suitable for: 18+

Tickets cost: £150 + Booking Fees or £130 + Booking Fees for Resident or Associate Artists or Students

To find out more about Emma Williams and to book your place visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/directing-puppetry-two-day-weekend-workshop-tickets-1981572707310

How do you write and devise for puppetry? What should you consider when doing so for puppetry? What does puppetry bring to the process?

Puppet Place hosted a Writing & Devising for Puppetry Panel and Q&A session, which explored how to create narratives using puppetry for theatre, performance, and film, which took place on Monday, 8th December.

Panel Speakers:

Cat Rock (catrock.portfoliobox.net)
Cat Rock is an award winning puppeteer, film maker, performer, the Creative Director for the Puppet Place 48 who makes wonderfully weird puppetry for the stage, film and TV. Credits include: Coldplay, Music of the Spheres (UK) Puppeteer: FKA Twigs, Eusexua Tour, Puppeteer/Puppet Director; Wort the Wizard; Bark Bark, Buzzcut Productions; The Bear by Raymond Briggs; Macbeth, Paper Cinema; Mischief and Mystery in Moomin Valley, Lost and Found.

Chris Pirie (greenginger.net)
Chris has been Artistic Director of award-winning European theatre company Green Ginger for 25 years, during which time he has co-written and designed many of its productions. The company has developed a design-led devising process to create its highly visual shows. Outside of Green Ginger, Chris has worked as a puppetry specialist on eleven productions with Olivier-award winning director Sally Cookson – works that have mostly been ensemble-devised with a ‘writer in the room’. Chris also teaches on Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s MA courses for Writers and Directors.

Matt Gibbs (mattgibbs.net)
Matt is a WGGB award nominated writer, narrative designer, and editor. He has worked on BAFTA award winning and nominated games, and is a Partner at Talespinners, a cooperative providing writing, narrative design, and consultancy for games. Alongside his games work, he is part of Improper Books, a studio focused on creator-owned stories that have a touch of the fairy tale or otherworldly about them. Based in Puppet Place, Bristol, he has collaborated with other residents, puppeteers, and animators on a variety of interactive experiences, films, and theatre pieces.

The panel was chaired by Izzy Bristow and recorded by Jonathan Eve. Puppet Place is the home for puppetry in the South West. Established as a charity over 40 years ago to support puppetry practitioners in the region, we are now a thriving community network.

Together, we seek to innovate, research, and develop; to nurture new ideas and emerging talent; to further develop the artform of puppetry; and to engage with the public through our work.

Photo Credit: Scarlet Oak Theatre

Following on from the success of our two previous Scratch Cabarets in 2024, this time round we hosted the cabaret on two dates Friday 28 & Saturday 29 November, with a matinee on the Saturday.

Money raised from this fundraiser will be used by the Puppet Place Trust (charity) to update and upgrade its home at Unit 18 Albion Dockside Estate, to support teaching and outreach work from the building for both puppetry practitioners and Bristol’s communities. These updates include continued essential electrical upgrades and renovation of the building to create more and accessible spaces, for the benefit of our residents, associate artists, and other external individuals and companies that work in the building or hire the Rehearsal Studio and Fabrication Workshop.

We’d like to extend our thanks to the Cabaret Crew who volunteered their time to make it happen again and also to all the performers, technicians and volunteers who took part – we couldn’t have done it without you!!

Performers & Shows

Compered by The Great Zucchini – Crow Nose Theatre and Moon MC – Helena Houghton.

Scarlet Oak Theatre – Old Hollywood Iguana (Saturday only)
Nathan Frog – Frog & Bone Shadow Puppets (Friday only)
Izzy B & friends – Becoming Mothman
Bryony & Izzy – Stiletto
Crow Nose Theatre – The Waiter
Beanpig Puppets – Beanpig
Harold & Monster – Beep Beep Puppetry
Green Ginger – Lionel The Vinyl
Opposable Thumb – Big Bad Wolf

Plus walkabout acts by Florence Scott, Ben Mars, Morbid Merriments, Saskia Tomlinson and Cat Rock.

Monday 27 October・10am & 2pm
Tuesday 28 October・10am & 2pm

Stop-Motion Animation Taster Sessions: Play with sand on glass and paper puppets in this hands on taster day. With Helena Houghton and Jonathan Eve. Age 12+ accompanied by with parent or legal guardian.

Wednesday 29 October ・from 10am

Drop in kid’s Button Marionettes with Em Spoor and Izzy B on Wednesday morning

Come create fun floppy Halloween themed button marionettes in our drop in session between 10am-noon on Wednesday 29 October. Under 18 accompanied by parent or legal guardian.

Wednesday 29 October ・1pm & 2.45pm

Join for one of two Handkerchief Marionettes Workshops with Izzy B workshops in the afternoon on Wednesday 29 October and take home your very own handmade marionette. Age 12+ accompanied by with parent or legal guardian.

Thursday 30 October 11am & 2.30pm

The Spirit of Nature – Found Object Manipulation Puppetry with Arcaeli Puppet Theatre. Explore the life and movement waiting in sticks, rocks, feathers and more with Araceli Puppet Theatre in this one of a kind workshop. Suitable for under 18s with parent or legal guardian.

Friday 31 October ・from 10am

Join this drop in Pick & Mix Shadow Monsters workshop with Em Spoor and Izzy B on Friday morning.

Create colourful monster puppets with your kids in our drop in sessions throughout the morning of Halloween Under 18 accompanied by parent or legal guardian.

Friday 31 October ・1pm & 2.45pm

Shadow Monsters Workshops with Em Spoor and Izzy B: Join us for one of two sessions in the afternoon of Halloween to make and take home your very own shadow puppet!

These workshops are suitable for Age 12+ accompanied by with parent or legal guardian.

Participants tried out a range of stop motion animation styles: from claymation to sand on glass, with Puppet Place Resident Artists Helena Houghton and Jonathan Eve.

Breakdown of the day:

There was a brief introduction to the principles of animation and a demonstration of examples of work in the different styles participants practised throughout the day. There were four animation booths, working simultaneously, and participants paired up to practice.

The following techniques were covered:

– claymation
– paper puppets
– sand on glass
– puppet animation

Participants delved a bit deeper into the world of shadow puppetry on this day long intensive on the mechanisms that make shadow puppets move.

This was a hands-on course where participants got to make their own shadow puppet mechanism, full puppets were not be built in this course, instead we focussed on building mechanical systems that can be integrated into future puppets.

Facilitated by Puppet Place Resident Artist: Izzy Bristow, who is a puppet maker and educator with experience across the puppet spectrum, from the Muppets to life sized dinosaurs, from international tours to heirloom restoration there is little that puppetry has to offer that Izzy hasn’t seen.

As Izzy says: “Shadow Puppets became a special interest during the pandemic and I have spent a lot of my free time in the last 5 years learning about their history and how they are made. I love teaching about them and hope you learn to love them too!”

This workshop was aimed at adults, young people and older children.

Saturday 13 September, from 10am – 5pm. Doors at 9:45am

Puppet Place opened its doors during the Bristol Harbour Festival, on Saturday 19 July 2025.

Both our Fabrication Workshop and Garden was open to visitors, and we ran puppetry demos, children’s workshops, and answered visitors’ puppet questions!

Some of our Resident Artists also ran some free workshops in our Rehearsal Studio:

• Children’s Stop Motion (Helena Houghton): Drop-in Workshop from 10:30 to 12:00.

• Circus Skills for ages 8+ (Alastair Fleming): Ticketed

• Marionettes for ages 12+ (Izzy B): Ticketed
  
  

Come to the Rehearsal Studio Entrance: universally.beyond.beard (what3words)

Puppet Place was delighted to host the British UNIMA AGM on Monday 30 June 2025 for an afternoon and evening of talks, demos, networking, funding opportunities and much more. This event offered a unique opportunity to engage with the puppetry community and experience inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours.

This included a first looks at student showings, an unforgettable monitor night where participants played with puppets on camera, an inspiring talk by Jane Paterson and of course, the British UNIMA Annual General Meeting (AGM), featuring important updates and the launch of the Penny Francis Award and more…

For details of the Agenda and to RSVP follow this link – www.unima.org.uk/p/join-us-for-british-unima-at-puppet

RSVP by Monday 23 June – Confirm whether you’ll attend in person or stream the AGM online. Spaces are limited, RSVP early to secure your spot and access needs.

Puppet Place and Bath Carnival teamed up to offer excess materials and unusual treasures from the store rooms of both institutions. 

From fabrics and foams to full costumes and tools, it was time for us to clear our shelves and share our hordes with the world!

Materials were offered by the bag starting at £5 and the proceeds were split between the two charities.

Individual costumes, props, puppets and tools will have price tags, and their sale will support the individual artist that provided that piece.

Over £500 was raised for Puppet Place Trust & Bath Carnival – thanks everyone!

This was a hands-on course where participants got to make their own shadow puppets and saw how they worked in a variety of shadow puppetry set ups.

Facilitated by Puppet Place Resident Artist: Izzy Bristow, who is a puppet maker and educator with experience across the puppet spectrum, from the Muppets to life sized dinosaurs, from international tours to heirloom restoration there is little that puppetry has to offer that Izzy hasn’t seen.

As Izzy says: “Shadow Puppets became a special interest during the pandemic and I have spent a lot of my free time in the last 5 years learning about their history and how they are made. I love teaching about them and hope you learn to love them too!”

Guests joined us on Wednesday 23 April 2025 at Puppet Place HQ for the first of several Panel Discussions planned for 2025.

Panel speakers:

Carrot (Beanpig puppets / @beanpigpuppets) Carrot is a puppeteer, illustrator, performance artist painter, workshop facilitator, and muralist. Part of Beanpig puppets, a puppetry collective formed in 2019, that perform surrealist puppet shows.

Izzy B (@izzlebee)
Izzy B is a puppet maker and educator with experience across the puppet spectrum, from Muppets to life sized dinosaurs, from international tours to heirloom restoration, there is little puppetry has to offer that Izzy hasn’t seen.

Jasmine Orchard (Scarlet Oak Theatre / @scarletoaktheatre)
Jasmine is a freelance director, actor, puppeteer, director and producer. Part of Scarlet Oak Theatre, a Bristol based theatre company that creates exciting, original theatre for young people and their families.

The panel was chaired by Matt Gibbs and recorded by Jonathan Eve.