The Physical Puppeteer With Rene Baker

A puppeteer performs two bodies simultaneously, their own and that of the puppet. This practical course for performers and directors examines different aspects of this peculiar and interesting duality.

Participants will learn to use their own body ergonomically and safely whilst manipulating a puppet; develop their kinaesthetic awareness and sensitivity to the object in their hands; practise perceiving physical sensation on behalf of the puppet and getting it to respond as if the object itself were a physically sentient being; discover how to create a credible illusion of physical life in the puppet and how to use sensorial imagination to achieve effects such as a puppet walking against an imaginary wind or jumping on an invisible surface. Finally, the question of audience kinaesthetic empathy will be explored and why a physically expressive puppet creates a good connection with the audience.

Rene Baker has worked in professional puppet and object theatre for 25 years as a performer, director, designer, teacher and researcher. She was the puppetry tutor at Central School of Speech & Drama (London) between 1998-2005, taught visual theatre at the Institut del Teatre (Barcelona) 2005-2010, and was then a guest teacher at the Turku Academy of Arts (Finland). In 2012 she returned to the UK where she combines teaching with directing and writing.

This masterclass is for professional and practicing theatre makers, puppeteers and performers.