puppets in prague

Description of workshop

The workshop focuses on the specific technology of the traditional 4-legged animal marionettte. It is divided into three parts:

Part 1: Design. Students will participate in a live online lecture in December. Then they will create a design for their own unique animal marionette and consult with Mirek about it.

Part 2: Wooden parts pre-cut on band saw - puppet parts with joints will be prepared in Prague based on students' designs and sent to them by UPS. All puppet parts and controller will be in this package.

Part 3: Making the puppet: Students will meet two times a week on Zoom and get detailed instructions on the aspects of making the marionette during live presentations by Mirek, learning the technology of this marionette, how to carve hands, head, legs, and body, how to assemble the puppet, stringing, how to make the controller and attach strings. There will be regular individual consultations before every session. Students should count on spending 6-8 hours carving between sessions.

Students will need a basic set of 5 - 7 chisels for this workshop + sharpening stones which will cost from $150-$200. We will give guidance on how to purchase them.

Schedule

Students will meet Thursday and Sundays from March 11 - April 4. Classes will be recorded and students will have access to the videos.

We will hold the class at 7-8:30 p.m. Prague time (1-2-30 p.m. EST)

Part 1- Design

In December, a lecture will take place on design - date and time will be decided by the group. The following days, all students will have individual online consultations.

Students will then submit their final design.

 

Part 2- Preparing wood

Puppets in Prague cuts wood based on design and ships puppet parts and controller to students before the workshop begins.

 

Part 3- Making the puppet

The classes will start on Thursday, March 11 and meet on Sundays and Thursdays until Sunday April 4. Students must expect to spend approximately 6-8 hours between classes working on carving.

We offer individual consultations every day before lectures.

Who is the course designed for?

We recommend this course for students with some experience with carving, tools and building. Students must be comfortable working on their own.

 

There will be consultations before and after lectures.

Workshop fee

Puppets parts,contoller: 5,000 Czech Crowns (approx 180 Euro / $210)**

Tuition: 7,500 Czech Crowns (approx 270 EUR / $320) - includes 9 live lectures online, individual consultations throughout process, videos

Postage, UPS: 2500 Czech Crowns (approx 93 EUR/ $110) *

TOTAL: 15,000 Czech crowns (approx 550 EUR / $640- find current exchange rates here).

Additional costs:

Price does NOT include chisels

Students also must have a basic set of chisels and sharpening tools, which will cost about $180 for top quality Swiss chisels. It is possible to get cheaper tools, but we do not recommend it. We will help students order tools from suppliers.

Language

The workshop is taught in English.

Teacher

Miroslav Trejtnar

Leader of workshop.

Miroslav Trejtnar graduated with high honours from the puppet design department of the Prague Academy of Performing Arts. He has trained with Institut UNIMA in Charleville - Mezieres in France. In 1989 he started the KID Company, designing and producing wooden puppets, toys and sculptures. 

Mirek has taught hundreds of students at Puppets in Prague workshops. He has also taught for the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, St. Martin’s College of Design in London, New York University in Prague, Chapito Circus Academy in Lisbon, Portugal, and in Macao and Hong Kong.

Leah Gaffen

History, Organization

Leah Gaffen is an American who has lived in the Czech Republic for fifteen years.  She founded the Puppets in Prague workshops with Mirek Trejtnar, and has worked with him as a producer for the course since then.  She also runs Story Theatre, an award-winning children's theatre company based in Prague.

Šarka Zikova

Painting

Šarka is professional ilustrator, painter and puppet designer . She worked on big number of animated films as designer.