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Heritage Crafts

” As I have been working at Little Angel for such a long time, I’ve had the privilege to see the amazing puppets that hang around the buildings from years gone by – you wouldn’t believe how many there are dotted around backstage! The marionettes, however, have not been used since I have been here and it’s a form of puppetry I previously had little training in. Opportunities to train in this craft sadly do not come around very often as there is only a handful of marionette puppet masters left including the theatre’s founder Lyndie.”

– Associate Director Oliver Hymans

We are thrilled to invite you to a special Open House event at Little Angel Theatre, a cherished venue dedicated to preserving and celebrating the timeless art of puppetry.

Event Details:

  • Date: Sunday 15th September
  • Time: 10:00-16:00 (drop in any time)
  • Location: 14 Dagmar Passage, Islington, London, N1 2DN

Open House is an opportunity to witness the intricate artistry behind puppet-making, to meet our team and to learn about our efforts to nurture the next generation of makers.

What to Expect:

  • Behind-the-Scenes Tours: You will get exclusive access to our theatre space (including our marionette bridge) and workshop.
  • Hands-On Activities: Coming with a little one? We will have some of our wonderful puppetry facilitators leading a craft activity in the foyer.

Meet the Artists: Engage with the puppeteers and artisans who are passionate about keeping this beautiful craft alive.

The key ideas that underpin this strand of work

  • Accessibility: Making puppetry accessible to diverse communities by creating inclusive and engaging performances that speak to a wide range of audiences. We are committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that puppetry is created by diverse voices. We aim to ensure those individuals from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the sector are given equal opportunities.
  • Preservation of Tradition: While embracing innovation, we also recognize the importance of preserving traditional puppetry techniques and styles. We aim to strike a balance that respects the rich history of puppetry while pushing the art form into exciting new territories.
  • Collaboration: Fostering a collaborative community that encourages artists to exchange ideas, share experiences, and work together to push the art of puppetry forward. We believe that collaboration is the key to unlocking new possibilities and driving continuous innovation.

Oliver was supported by the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) from 2021-22 and was the recipient of the QEST Stanley Picker Scholarship to train in traditional marionette making.

He was trained by the last remaining marionette makers in the UK, including Lyndie Wright, LAT’s founder, and is now committed to re-establishing this traditional craft of puppetry.

To find out more, read our article with The Stage here

Marionette-making was added to the Heritage List of Endangered Crafts in early 2023, putting our beloved craft under threat. This threat has motivated us to extend our artist development program to ensure that puppetry can be enjoyed by future generations – both for makers and viewers.

You can read more about the list here. 

What we are currently doing

 

1)     The 2024 Homo Faber Fellowship

Oliver and Ash (our 2023/4 Trainee) are currently taking part in the 2024 Homo Faber Fellowship. Through the fellowship, they are working on a bespoke marionette training programme to up-skill the next generation of makers. We are very excited to be part of such a special project where we can spotlight our beloved craft.

2)      The Revival of the Marionette Making Course

This is a 5-day workshop where participants can learn the intricate skill of marionette carving, with Oliver leading the sessions at our on-site workshop. This is part of our efforts to keep the art form alive by training the next generation of makers.

We also ensure that there is always at minimum one bursary place on offer, enabling aspiring makers to take part without the price tag. This is funded by your generous donations, to help us to upkeep this promise, please do consider donating today.

This course is sponsored by Heritage Craft’s Endangered Craft Fund.

3)      Next goal: To Produce a Marionette Show for the 2025 Children’s Puppet Festival

Subject to funding, we strive to produce a marionette show will be produced using puppets created by our skilled puppet makers, as part of our Children’s Puppetry Festival.

To turn this vision into a reality, LAT requires resources beyond its current means. While we are committed to pursuing every avenue to make this show happen, the scale of our aspirations will depend heavily on the support we receive from our wonderful community.

Please do consider sponsoring this project today, and of course get in contact with us with any questions development@littleangeltheatre.com

” I am hoping long term that such alert will allow us to try to get more funding for either productions or training opportunities in the future and push the Marionette craft forward”