Roots and Wings: Puppetry, Collaboration and Climate Action in East Africa
UNIMA-Kenya announces a professional puppet building and performance training this September, led by UK artist Alison Duddle. online and in- person. September 2025
As part of the Pro-Vocation: Roots and Wings programme, UNIMA-Kenya is launching a six-day hybrid workshop in Nairobi, designed to support East African puppeteers and artists in developing new puppetry skills with a focus on environmental storytelling and community collaboration.
Taking place from 22–27 September 2025, the training is open to both in-person participants in Nairobi and remote participants internationally, with a total cohort of 20 artists. The workshop will be delivered in English and will be led by UK-based visual artist and puppet-maker Alison Duddle, known for her imaginative large-scale works and sustainable practice.
While this is not a British UNIMA event, we’re pleased to share this opportunity from our colleagues in Kenya as part of our commitment to highlighting international collaboration and professional development in puppetry.
Workshop Focus: Construction, Movement, and Climate Awareness
Over the course of six days, participants will work collaboratively to build two life-sized animal puppets — a cheetah and a wildebeest — as well as a small hummingbird puppet, all inspired by puppet designs from Ukwanda Puppet Theatre’s production The Herds.
The performance component of the training will draw inspiration from the Hummingbird parable shared by Kenyan environmentalist Prof. Wangari Maathai, which highlights the importance of individual action in the face of climate change. Through movement-based devising and interactive performance training, artists will explore the connections between ecology, story, and puppetry.
“This workshop aims to create outstanding puppetry art that blends traditional craftsmanship with innovative, contemporary techniques.”
Programme Overview
Dates: 22–27 September 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily
Format: Hybrid – In-person in Nairobi with digital participation available
Language: English
Participants: 20 total, including international digital participants
Throughout the week, the group will:
Sculpt animal heads and bird forms
Construct lightweight wooden structures with moving parts
Apply sustainable materials including brown papermache and natural fibres
Develop techniques for puppet movement and expressive performance
Engage in collaborative devising based on environmental themes
Present their work in a public showing as part of a local festival
This workshop forms part of a wider puppetry festival in Nairobi, with performances planned for theatres and schools, encouraging broad community engagement.
Target Participants
English-speaking African puppeteers
Professional or emerging artists and makers
Amateurs with an established creative practice
Artists interested in storytelling, climate issues, and collaborative work
Trainer Profile: Alison Duddle
Alison Duddle is a freelance visual artist, puppet and mask designer, and founder of A Bird in the Hand Theatre, known for imaginative outdoor performance for family audiences. Her work includes:
The Bewonderment Machine – a cycle-powered kinetic carousel
Large-scale lantern puppets for UK winter festivals
International teaching projects in Iraq, China, Sweden, Austria, France, Madeira, and the Czech Republic
With over 30 years of experience, Alison specialises in puppets made from sustainable and natural materials, ranging from small-scale table-top designs to monumental sculptural figures.
🔗 Visit Alison’s website: www.abirdinthehandtheatre.co.uk
Application Process
Interested artists must submit an application before 15 August 2025. Applicants should provide samples of their work and a short statement of interest. A full application form will be made available through UNIMA-Kenya.
📍 Mobility support may be available for selected participants, upon request.
Puppet Construction Techniques
Puppets created in the workshop will be:
Built around lightweight plywood frames
Covered with brown paper/PVA papermache for waterproofing
Featuring hinged joints using cotton webbing and recycled rubber
Sculpted with papermache heads over clay moulds
Painted and finished with textured cardboard skins
Participants will rotate through build stages in small groups, culminating in movement workshops and a final showcase performance.
About the Pro-Vocation: Roots and Wings Initiative
This training is one strand of a broader African puppetry development project supported by UNIMA and UNESCO, continuing the momentum from the Puppeteers’ Meeting in Cape Town (November 2024). The Pro-Vocation: Roots and Wings programme includes:
Three regional training courses
International meetings and exchange
A multi-city puppet festival
An inter-African seminar focused on puppetry’s role in education, community and innovation
The initiative recognises puppetry as a vital tool for artistic expression, social cohesion, and cultural sustainability, and celebrates its growing presence in both traditional and academic contexts across Africa.
Find Out More
For updates and application information, please follow UNIMA’s official channels or contact UNIMA-Kenya directly.
🌐 www.unima.org
If you are connected to an artist or organisation who might benefit from this training, please do share this notice.