Writing for Puppetry

I’m delighted to have the chance to develop my writing over this coming Winter and Spring, thanks to Arts Council England's Developing Your Creative Practice.

I’ve always had an interest and fascination with both puppetry and theatre. And, thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, I now have the opportunity to expand my knowledge, with an emphasis on exploring the possibilities and limitations of puppetry as a medium, while developing my writing and enhancing my existing practice.

Over the coming months, I’ll be mentored by established members of the UK Puppetry Community, Cat Rock (House of Funny Noises), Chris Pirie (Green Ginger), and Elizabeth Johnson (Elizabeth Johnson Makes), in contemporary puppetry techniques, multi-operator puppetry, puppet design and fabrication, and devising for theatre and puppetry.

Throughout, my aims are to:

  • Gain a deeper understanding of puppetry, inc. emotional storytelling and physical practicalities

  • Develop writing and devising skills for puppetry

  • Improve my existing writing by exploring a new medium

  • Devise and create a short portfolio piece (script & showreel)

  • Engage with the wider puppetry community, and:

  • Create opportunities for future collaboration and exploration

  • Enable my practice to become more sustainable and resilient

Alongside all of that, I plan to document and blog about my journey here and on Instagram too, and share what I discover along the way.

I’m excited to see where this adventure leads.

 

tl;dr Puppetry has always fascinated and delighted me. And this opportunity to develop my creative practice, made possible thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, enables me to explore new avenues of collaboration and expression, as well as improve my existing writing and creative practice.

Matt Gibbs

Writer, Narrative Designer, and Editor. Part of Talespinners and Improper Books. Resident Puppet Place.

https://mattgibbs.net
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