Puppet People

Arm and shoulder warm ups

Strength exercises
Puppet Technique

Arms can become sore after a few minutes on stage and then the second time you enter the stage you will get tired even more quickly. One of the keys during your practice time is to work on conditioning your arms so you can hold them in a consistent position for several minutes at a time.

The second key is to make sure they concentrate on your puppet as much as possible.

If your arm tire quickly you’ll begin to lose focus on the puppet and just try to make it through the performance without the a right energy level.

The audience need to focus on the story not the actor holding a puppet. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t just pop the puppet up because that’ll draw attention to it. Slowly raise it up to the proper height and continue the play.

Paired Impulse work

Moving around your partner more interestingly.

Low, bent legs.

In a group of 4 (1 Puppet, 3 Puppeteers)

With ascribed lines

Don’t mask the front,

Use all the audience.

Live through the moment with the puppet be visible but complementary.

Changing characters

Changing characters (30 mins)

Objectives

·     To create contrasting 2D and 3D characters

·     To understand the tools available to differentiate between character

·     To work as a group conveying a high ability of complicity and focus

·     To share ideas

·     To improvise

Stage one

Explain that if an actor needs to be more than one person on stage that he needs to be able to show difference between each character he is showing.

How can someone do this?

Stage two

Ask a selection of students to stand in a line. Ask the remaining students to come up with ideas to fit in with 1,2 and 3.

Ask the students in the line to start in neutral and move through each of 1,2 and 3 portraying them separately. Stepping forwards and changing with each step as the leading right foot hits the floor.

For less able students ask them to end in a freeze.

Ask other students to do the same while showing of 4,5 and 6.

Stage three

Then ask for a brave volunteer to show all 1 to 6 layering the instructions up and building a 3D character. Ask the audience to suggest a story line to fit in with the construct.

Stage four

Ask the students to devise three contrasting characters. Starting in a line of neutral and building the characters as they step towards the audience.

Some students may find it easier to have a caller or have the layers written down so everyone can see.

After each character is performed ask the audience to suggest a story for each turn.

	Character trait layers 1 Physicality Aggressive 2 Status High 3 Energy 4 4 Emotional state Crying 5 Objectives To dance 6 Voice Quiet		Character trait layers 1 Physicality 2 Status 3 Energy 4 Emotional state 5 Objectives 6 Voice

 

2D Stereotypes

3D Layered characters