puppets in prague

Description of series

Each workshop lasts two hours. You will receive a video of the workshop afterwards which will be available online for 1 month.

 

Costume Design (January 31)

Puppet master Mirek Trejtnar will be accompanied by costume designer Marcela Krcalova to demonstrate what you need to do to successfully make a costume for your puppet: design, patterns, and how to account for the technology of puppet.

Moving Eyes (February 7)

Mirek will demonstrate how to make special technology to make eyes that move.

Acrobat Marionette (February 14)

How to design, carve, string and make a controller for a puppet that can fly on a trapeze.

Building a Toy Theatre Stage (February 21)

Learn Mirek's unique PIP design of a puppet theatre that collapses into a small, portable box. This is based on Czech historical designs from the 1920s and the workshop will include discussion about the significance of family puppet theatres in interwar Czechoslovakia.

Machines used in Puppet Making (March 7)

What machines does a professional puppet maker use to go from rough wood boards to puppet pieces ready for carving? Mirek will take you on a tour of his workshop, demonstrating how to prepare wood for puppet making.

 

Schedule

All demos will take place online at 7 - 9 p.m. Central European Time (1-3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time).

January 31 - Puppet Costume Design

February 7- Moving Eyes

February 14 - Acrobat Marionettes

February 21Toy Theatre - Constructing a Stage

March 7- Machines Used in Puppet Making

 

These demos are designed for people who want to refresh their knowledge of puppet making as well as people who are new to the field.

 

price of demos

The workshops cost 800 Czech crowns (approx 30 Euros) each for 2-hour session

DISCOUNTS:

If you take all 5 workshops, you will get one for free (Total cost - 3200 Czech crowns.

If you take 3 - 4 workshops, you will get a discount of 400 Czech crowns 16 Euros)

30% DISCOUNT FOR ALL FULL TIME STUDENTS!

Find current exchange rates here.

 

Additional costs:

Price does NOT include chisels or any materials

If students are interested in buying chisels or other tools, we can give you information about ones that we recommend and also suppliers.

Language

The demos are 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. His wooden cyclist toy is part of teh collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. 

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 25 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.