A Spring of Puppetry at Puppet Place
Workshops in Bristol, Feb–April 2026 | Early Bird on selected workshops until 1 February
From February to April 2026, Puppet Place is hosting a spring programme of hands-on puppetry workshops in Bristol, led by experienced practitioners from across the UK puppetry community. The programme includes four in-depth workshops, with three making workshops offering a 10% Early Bird discount if booked before 1 February 2026, alongside a directing masterclass in April.
If you’re a maker, performer, director, educator, or curious creative, this is your invitation to spend time at the workbench, around the table, and inside the wonderful, slightly chaotic world of puppetry.
What’s On at Puppet Place (Save the Dates!)
14–15 February 2026
Two-Day Puppet Making Masterclass
with Isabel Lyster / Paper Jungle
Follow Isabel on Instagram HERE
See more of her work HERE
Early Bird discount if booked before 1 February 2026
Suitable for: 18+
28 February–1 March 2026
Character Sculpting & 3D Pattern Making
with Isabel Lyster / Paper Jungle
Early Bird discount if booked before 1 February 2026
Suitable for: 18+
7–8 March 2026
Shadow Suitcase Theatre: Building a Portable Shadow Puppet Show
with Isabel Lyster / Paper Jungle
Early Bird discount if booked before 1 February 2026
Suitable for: 18+
11–12 April 2026
🎬 Directing Puppetry
with Emma Williams
All workshops take place at Puppet Place, Bristol and are suitable for 18+.
Meet the Artists
Isabel Lyster (Paper Jungle)
Isabel has spent over a decade creating puppets, props, and sets for theatre and live events — from the majestic War Horse puppets with Handspring to character costumes at the London Palladium.
After training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Isabel founded Paper Jungle, specialising in exquisitely crafted puppets that bring stories to life. She combines technical rigour with deep curiosity about how puppets connect emotionally with audiences — and she’s an incredibly generous teacher.
Across three hands-on weekend workshops, Isabel will guide participants through:
Designing and building table-top puppets
Sculpting character heads and creating 3D patterns
Constructing a fully portable shadow suitcase theatre
Each workshop is practical, immersive, and designed to leave you with both new skills and finished work. Early-bird discounts are available for these workshops if you book before 1 February 2026.
Follow Isabel on Instagram HERE
See more of her work HERE
Emma Williams – Directing Puppetry
Emma has directed and co-created international touring productions for Pickled Image, Green Ginger and Opposable Thumb Theatre.
This workshop explores how stories are shaped through objects, movement, space, scale, and the unique relationship between puppeteer and puppet. Expect hands-on exploration, playful experimentation, moments of failure, and plenty of discovery — all guided by Emma’s extensive experience as a puppetry director and dramaturg.
Perfect for performers, directors, and theatre-makers looking to expand their creative toolkit.
Contact Emma via emmasoarhd@gmail.com if you have any questions about the course or Sally Reay on info@puppetplace.org with regards to the venue.
Who Are These Workshops For?
These workshops are open to anyone inspired by puppetry — whether you’re developing your professional practice, expanding your skill set, or following a long-standing curiosity.
You don’t need to “be a puppeteer already.” You just need an interest in making, storytelling, and learning alongside others.