Behind the Camera: Puppetry for Film, Design and Emerging Technology
Saturday 4 July 2026 | 2:00–4:00pm | The Waverley Studio, Nottingham Trent University | Tickets £5
Saturday 4 July 2026 | 2:00–4:00pm | The Waverley Studio, Nottingham Trent University | Tickets £5
Tomorrow, BrUNIMA Co-Chair Sean Myatt joins an exceptional panel of artists and researchers for an afternoon exploring the fascinating world of puppetry for screen.
Whether you’re a puppeteer, designer, filmmaker, student, researcher, or simply curious about how puppetry is used in contemporary film and technology, this promises to be a fascinating opportunity to hear directly from practitioners working at the highest level of the industry.
Hosted at Nottingham Trent University as part of the Nottingham Puppet Festival, the event brings together leading voices from across film, performance and robotics to explore how puppetry continues to influence storytelling, character creation and emerging technologies.
Speakers include:
🎭 Sean Myatt
Senior Lecturer in Theatre Design at Nottingham Trent University and Co-Chair of BrUNIMA, Sean has worked as a puppeteer, performer and educator for more than thirty years. His practice spans traditional and contemporary puppetry, object theatre, carnival and opera across the UK and Europe.
🎬 Martin Rezard
Character and creature designer whose work includes Lucasfilm, Marvel, Harry Potter, Maleficent and the forthcoming Project Hail Mary. Martin will discuss creature design, practical effects and creating characters for major film productions.
🎥 Claire Roi Harvey
An award-winning puppeteer, builder and puppetry director whose work spans Star Wars, Jurassic World, Doctor Who, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Willow and many more. Claire will offer a rare insight into the practical realities—and hidden artistry—of puppeteering behind the camera.
🤖 Ayse Kucukyilmaz and Victor Ngo
Researchers from the University of Nottingham, exploring the exciting connections between puppetry, human-robot interaction, movement, design and emerging technologies.
Why we think it’s worth attending
Puppetry continues to evolve in exciting and unexpected ways. From blockbuster films and television to robotics research and contemporary performance, puppetry is influencing disciplines far beyond the traditional stage.
We’re delighted to see BrUNIMA Co-Chair Sean Myatt contributing to this conversation and helping showcase the breadth of today’s puppetry practice.
If you’re within travelling distance of Nottingham, this promises to be a thought-provoking afternoon—and at £5 a ticket, it’s an excellent opportunity to hear directly from internationally recognised practitioners.
📅 Saturday 4 July 2026
🕑 2:00–4:00pm
📍 The Waverley Studio, Nottingham Trent University
🎟 Tickets: £5 (advance booking recommended)