Tel/fax:01392 491517 Mob:07929 579819 Email:steve@artworksplus.freeserve.co.uk ART WORKS - with artist Steve Newton 17 Chamberlain Road, Exeter,Devon, EX2 8EW. Tel/Fax: (01392) 491517 mobile: 07929579819 steve@artworksplus.freeserve.co.uk Shadow Puppets are the ideal medium for teaching the concept of LIGHT and SHADOW, and are probably one of the oldest forms of puppetry. Their very simplicity of design and scope for personal creativity make them a truly magical, instant and inspiring art-form. They are made by cutting silhouettes from card, and these are then pressed (by attaching thin garden canes), against a white translucent screen which is `back-lit` from behind. The audience, on the other side of the screen, see the figures as sharp black shadows.      They can be jointed with paper fasteners so that they can move, talk, wriggle, fly, or whatever movement you wish. Colour in the Shadows is created by cutting holes in the card and covering these with coloured cellophanes, so beautiful butterflies, fish etc. can be made.      Scenery is also cut from card and coloured in the same way and is stuck onto the screen with sellotape. The effect can be stunning, rather like a stained glass window.      Because of their simplicity and ease of construction Shadow puppets are ideal for Primary Schools from Reception to Year 6. They are not difficult to make or to operate and, even if only roughly cut look surprisingly delicate and intricate on the shadow screen.  Each year group can happily create the Shadows to their individual skills and they all, without exception, love to operate their puppets on my screen to show them off.      If possible it is nice to get a class to work in small groups of no more than six per group. Each group can plan a short story, create the characters and scenery, practise some dialogue and then act out their story to the others on my screen.      When I do a Shadow Puppet day I always begin with a performance to the children (the whole school might like to watch the show). This lets them see the potential for Shadow Puppets, it inspires their desire to make their own and shows how even the simplest Puppet looks wonderful when operated against the screen. Following the show I demonstrate the `making technique` and then the children make their puppets.      All materials will be provided, including the use of a large shadow screen.  The shadow puppet making workshops have great potential for cross-curricular activity. The making process covers much Design and Technology. Shadow puppets are a wonderful way for children and adults to express their creativity. There are presently three shows available  : Shadow Puppets "So simple and yet quite stunning ! - even the youngest children's puppets took on a magic and an exuberance that I would not have believed possible." "Great fun, it was amazing how beautiful our card and scrap puppets became on the screen." "The shadow puppets were the perfect vehicle for the children's stories - their show was a lovely, funny and excited performance!" 1. 'Nonsense' which lasts for 40 mins and includes :'The Owl and the Pussy- Cat','The Jumblies','The Dong with a Luminous Nose' and 'The Pobble who has no toes'  by Edward Lear. 'The Jabberwocky' & 'How doth the little Crocodile'  by Lewis Carroll, and 'The Quangle Wangles Hat'  by Edward Lear. The poems are read by Ben Newton. 2. ' Indian Tales' this performance lasts for 40 mins and includes: 'The King Of The Crocodiles','The Close Alliance','The Tiger, the Brahman and the Jackal' and 'Little Anklebone'.  Narrated by Steve Newton. 3. 'Wolf Tales' this performance lasts for 40 mins and includes : 'The boy who cried WOLF', 'The three little pigs', 'The horse and the wolf ', 'The wolf and the crane' and more... narrated by Ben Newton.  Home Animation Puppetmaking Maskmaking Shadow Puppets Puppet Shows Contact Links Sitemap Home Animation Puppetmaking Maskmaking Shadow Puppets Puppet Shows Gallery Contact Shadow Puppets