Workshop: Signs of Life with Rene Baker

How does an object come alive? This practical and playful course reveals how any puppet, object or material that moves in such a way that we perceive it to have thoughts, feelings and objectives will appear to have a life of its own.

This workshop is a part of the Pop Up Puppets International Festival hosted by Marionetteatern, at Kulturhuset Stadsteatern in Stockholm August 22-25, 2024. See full program here.

Participants will explore more complex emotions than we normally expect from puppets, expanding their emotional vocabulary by interpreting abstract movement, and will learn to use rhythm, gesture, breath, precise looks and reactions to articulate the object's thoughts and feelings.

Rene Baker

En kvinna står vid ett bord med en väckarklocka och ett miniatyrpiano på.

Rene Baker specialises in puppet and object theatre, with over 30 years professional practice as a performer, director, designer, researcher and pedagogue. She trained at the Little Angel Theatre (London) and from 1992-1998 was a core member of the creative team at Norwich Puppet Theatre (UK). 1998-2005 she taught puppet manipulation at the Central School of Speech and Drama (London) and 2001-2010 lectured in visual theatre at the Institut del Teatre (Barcelona). 2010-2012 she was a full-time guest teacher in the puppetry and circus departments of the Turku Academy of Arts in Finland. Rene is currently key tutor with the Curious School of Puppetry and has recently created a series of online training courses.

Information and booking

Number of participants: 14

If you are accepted, the workshop is free of charge.

Target group: professional actors.

Language: English

Place: Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, Sergels torg

Date: August 21-23 (Wednesday-Friday)

Time: 10:00-15:00

More practical information will come IF you are accepted.

Apply no later than August 4, 2024

For more information and application click here.

TeaterAlliansen and Marionetteatern co-arrange this workshop.