London School of Puppetry

Applicants selected for the course are usually:

• graduates in a related discipline, e.g. drama, visual art, theatre, performance, creative therapy, education.
• or they are puppeteers who have reached an appropriate standard in the work-based learning context
• or have gained some experience as self-taught solo puppeteers
• or occasionally are complete beginners but do well at the interview/audition
• are computer literate, can communicate by email.
• have a good command of the English language
• are able to work alone and are strongly self-motivated

If you think you fit most of these categories please fill in the on line registration form.

Please note that if you are an international student and require a visa, you need to be assured that The London School of Puppetry appears on the DfES register. You are welcome to check:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/providersregister/faq-general.cfm

You will hear from Heather Nicholls our administrator who will email you the Equal Opportunities form which you should complete and return by post with the registration fee.

You are then eligible for the next step- see below.

The Interview

People are often worried about the interview process. We try to make the interview/audition as relaxing as possible:

We run a regular Taster / Interview sessions and this is the opportunity to learn more about puppetry, more about the school and also have time to enjoy puppets. You can start studying with us any time you like after having the interview and after we have offered you a place. There are 5 different start dates in most years.

or

You might like to attend one of the Mini Courses or Summer Schools instead of having a formal interview- this means that you can learn with others and have a discussion about your plans with any tutor. We would watch your work and report back to you. NB Your registration fee will be deducted from the Course fee allowing you a slight reduction.
All applicants need to be able to discuss or provide the following:

• Do some general reading on Japanese Bunraku Theatre, Rajasthani Marionettes and Indonesian Shadow Puppets.
• Write yourself a provisional business plan about how you intend to work as a puppeteer or use puppetry inside your current career. This should indicate how you will fund yourself while training: both in terms of paying fees and finding living expenses as well as outlining your longer term plans.
• Optional Please please bring drawings, models, designs, photos of anything you do, not just puppetry, even recipes are acceptable! We are happy to take away CDs or DVDs, but would prefer you to send us a link to your website (if you have one)
• If you wish to learn puppetry with a view to using it in education and therapy you need to be familiar with the book ˜I Am The Story by Caroline Astell-Burt (available from Amazon)