Shadow Puppets
Performance:
I do a show for approx. an hour, to as many children as you wish. The space needs to be darkened to get the best from Shadow Puppets and requires an area of roughly 10 by 7 feet, by 8 feet in height to erect the Theatre, plus a power point within 30 yards or so.
The show can be on any theme you wish (within reason and given adequate notice) but I carry a stock of puppets for simple Traditional Tales such as Three Billy Goats Gruff, Three Little Pigs, The Brahman, the Tiger and the Three Judges (a Traditional Indian Folk-Tale), and my adaptation of The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, plus simple songs like The Old Woman who Swallowed a Fly, Old McDonald`s Farm, etc. If you should want a particular theme, eg. African Tales, Indian Tales, Rain Forest Creatures, whatever- just give me time and I`ll do it.
The simplicity and immediacy of Shadow Puppets makes them perfect for all ages, from Reception upwards, and is a wonderful introduction to the study of LIGHT.
I generally do my performance and then follow with workshops with selected classes.
Workshops:
I demonstrate the `making technique`, emphasising the need to make them BIG and showing how moving parts are attached and colour obtained by cutting holes to let the light through and covering the holes with coloured cellophanes.
They then go back to their classrooms where they make their own puppets. I provide a large box for each class with AMPLE stuff to do the making- black card, sticks, sellotape, split fasteners, paper-clips etc. The school has to provide nothing at all.
I suggest that they work in small groups of six, as there is not room for more at a time to operate their puppets behind my screen, then if each group decides on a simple story, eg. The Hungry Caterpillar, Goldilocks and Three Bears, or simple Nursery Rhymes, they can act out their stories on my screen at the end of the day. I can work with a maximum of THREE classes in a day, although with three it does restrict any time for their shows and the day might have to end with either a small selection or everyone just showing their puppet on the screen. You must decide how `thin` you want to spread the day.
A letter to Sainsburys:- “Mr Don Newton helped the children to create the most wonderful shadow puppets. He generated an atmosphere of delight and enthusiasm during his three day workshop with us. His ability to encourage the children to produce high quality, innovative ideas and designs in a short timescale is remarkable.
The presentation of the story to visitors and parents was quite magical, as was the musical element created with a variety of percussive instruments. It was certainly an unforgettable experience for all those fortunate children who participated in this adventure.
We do hope we will be able to take advantage of this or any other innovative ideas in the future, and we thank you again for your grants to encourage local initiatives.”
Mrs Lorna Baker, Pinhoe Church School, Pinhoe, Exeter.
