City of Oxford College, Activate Learning Craft&Making and Fashion&Business Club members took part in a Masterclass with Oliver Hymans, a Puppet Artist and Associate Director at Little Angel Theatre. The session explored creating puppets from everyday materials and the magic of bringing inanimate objects to life.
Oliver began by introducing himself and his work, which blends theatricality, wonder, and craft. He then guided Club members through the first steps of puppet-making, starting with crafting the puppet’s head. Using tape to shape features like eyes, Club members experimented with design while receiving advice from Oliver.
Next, they created manipulable hands and built a body from paper. Once assembled, Oliver demonstrated performance techniques to bring the puppets to life, giving Club members the opportunity to practice performing with them. He also introduced his hand-carved puppet, highlighting how traditional puppet carving is an endangered craft.