Shadow Puppets in Norfolk

A group of children, an overhead projector and a projection surface (eg wall, sheet) and ‘away you go’ to explore a range of materials and the creation of shadows. Many schools have created performances right from early explorations, through drama, script-writing, DT puppet/set design, animation, music and sound effects, marketing and finally to performance and review of their own show. Children and teachers alike have found this an exciting and powerful way to develop creativity and present a story, a dance or a new world.

We’ve chosen this as a subject as several shadow events are happening in Norfolk over the next few months. Sally and Steve from the puppet company ‘Indefinite Articles’ have been exploring giants and shadows with infants at Surlingham Primary and we hope to tell you about their research and development in the near future. Those of you on the PiE schools list will remember seeing them in action developing the 'Chalk Giant' at NPT at our first PiE meeting. Tunstead Primary too have begun to plan for a cross curricular study for the autumn term (watch this space). Other companies also work with shadow performance in Norfolk and these can be accessed through the puppet company database at www.puppeteersUK.com

If you want to explore some ideas and stimulate children’s thinking please have a look at our blogs entitled ‘Shadow Performances’and 'Tips and Clips from a Puppeteer'. We have researched YouTube and found some useful clips.

Norwich Puppet Theatre also has a shadow play 13th and 14th April (see www.puppettheatre.co.uk/programme-of-events) . In addition the only other Puppet Theatre in England ‘ The Little Angel’ has an adult shadow performance in April (see www.littleangeltheatre.com/lat/whatson.)

Shed some light on the creativity of shadows.

If you want to join the Primary PiE network, so we can let you know about puppet related activities in local schools and the puppet world, please send an email to blog@puppettheatre.co.uk including
your name, email address, current age group taught and school and we will make sure you are on our emailing list.