Artist Development and Traineeship

Artist Development

LAT is committed to training and developing the art of puppetry making and performance.

We currently offer a range of opportunities for artist development at LAT. The current opportunities are:

• An ongoing two-year Puppet Design Traineeship with opportunities to work on in-house productions and on other projects in our commercial and creative learning departments.
• Provision of work placement for students currently enrolled on university courses.
• Puppetry projects with partner higher education providers including Central School of Speech & Drama (MA Applied Theatre Practice) and Guildhall School of Music & Drama (MA Collaborative Theatre Production and Design).
• Adult Professional Development Courses – ranging from puppetry performance in Foundation and Intermediate levels as well as shorter puppet making/design courses led by industry leading professionals e.g. Marionette-Carving. This includes the provision of a bursary place for every course. 
• Free rehearsal space for companies and artists who utilise puppetry within their practice.
• Informal support for artists wanting advice and guidance on their practice, such as R&D feedback.  

Traineeship

Each year since 2021, we have been operating a year long traineeship, bringing in early career makers to learn the skills and techniques required to make professional puppets. This years trainee, had 2 professional credits name when they completed the year.

Below is an interview with our most recent trainee, Ash. In this Ash reflect on the experience of being a trainee puppet maker.

Interview with 2023/24 trainee Ash Appadu

How did you feel when you first started and how does that compare to now?

I definitely felt really excited but also really unsure of my skillset, I had only made 2/3 puppets by that point. I had also never worked in theatre, and came from a Fine Art background – working to a brief/ theatre jargon like R&D. I just didn’t know anything about production either. I feel way more capable to navigate and understand the theatre landscape. I think I could apply to jobs in this field when I don’t think I would have.

I had a big love for this place before I was an intern, I did Oliver’s course online during lockdown and I also worked on box office too. To go from doing Oliver’s course to being in the workshop alongside him was pretty surreal.

Is there anything that has surprised you about the internship?

I did not expect that I would be as integrated within the team I was able to become. I think when you think of internships, you wouldn’t usually expect someone to have autonomy or be fully involved. I have been treated as a valuable member and like my opinion is being heard.  Being in a small team, it is really special to be able to spend that time together and get to know each other whilst also collaborating.

Have you met many people who you think you will work with in the future?

I would hope so, one of the nicest things was connecting with Jess who was the intern before. It was great to connect with another puppet maker, so that is someone who I can always message to work together. The same goes for some of the other freelancers who have helped me create a puppetry space where I can work with other young people. People who are at the start of their career, it is really nice to be amongst other people who share the same passions as you. Meeting the Theatre’s founder Lyndie was amazing. I have Peter O’Rourke’s number too- which feels crazy! I feel like I have a good network of people.