Puppet-Making Workshop

This hands-on puppet-making workshop is led by Katie Spiers, a sculptor and puppet maker with extensive experience working in schools, theatres, and festivals across Ireland. Katie has trained in ceramics, glass, and model making, and has worked for several years with Lambert Puppet Theatre, as well as leading puppetry and shadow theatre workshops through the TAP and BLAST programmes.

In the workshop, children will design and create their own rod puppet character or animal. Using lightweight, air-drying clay, participants sculpt a puppet head, then paint and decorate it with expressive details such as wool, textures, and features. A wooden dowel and fabric body are added so the puppet can be easily held and animated.

The session encourages imagination, storytelling, fine motor skills, and confidence through playful making and performance. The workshop is adaptable for different ages and abilities and is rooted in Katie’s professional background in sculpture, puppetry, and visual…