Animate Puppet Co is touring a new puppetry workshop specifically designed for KS2 children that focuses on wellbeing. This project is a Hampshire-wide initiative and supported by Arts Council England with £24,600.00 funding.
These workshops use puppetry as a tool for expression and connection - bringing high-quality creative experiences directly into schools.
Animate will be visiting 28 schools across 16 different locations, including: Winchester, Basingstoke, Hook, Southampton, Eastleigh, Farnborough, Alton, Fareham, Romsey, Portsmouth, Gosport, Fleet, Ringwood, Fordingbridge, Andover, and Brockenhurst.
Our facilitator team will lead enriching games and warm ups before teaching participants how to bring their puppet to life as teams of 3. Pupils will then explore storytelling and characterisation by creating short scenes to share with the rest of the group. Every participant will also receive a free tote bag with a ‘Make it at Home’ puppet kit & instructions!
By allowing space to create and perform, this project will:
- Nurture empathy and creativity
- Build resilience
- Enhance confidence and collaboration skills
- Improve communication skills (verbal and non-verbal)
- Spread joy
- Spark imagination
- Support emotional wellbeing through play
- Strengthen personal and social development
Animate is grateful to the @aceagrams for their support on this project and we can't wait to start visiting schools across the county! More information can be found on the link in our bio.
#animatepuppetco #puppetryworkshop #artscouncilsupported #puppetryforall
Animate Puppet Co is delighted to announce that we have received a grant of £24,600 from Arts Council England 🎊
This significant amount of funding will support our continued growth as an emerging company and go towards the launch of our new 'Puppetry & Wellbeing' project.
The project:
The Puppetry & Wellbeing project tours a new workshop program for KS2 children focused on wellbeing. These sessions will use puppetry as a tool for expression and connection - bringing high-quality creative experiences directly into 30 schools across 15 towns in Hampshire. By fostering a space to create and perform, we aim to nurture empathy and resilience, support emotional wellbeing, and aid personal & social development through playful, collaborative creativity. This project will take place between April and October 2026.
We're very grateful to @aceagrams for their support and look forward to sharing updates with you all as this project develops.
#animatepuppetco #puppetryworkshop #mentalwellness #artscouncilsupported
More from our shadow puppetry R&D 💡🌿
As part of the R&D, we also hosted a 'Make Your Own Shadow Puppet Box' community workshop - working with young people and their families to create their own shadow puppetry sequences.
Thank you to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Four Lanes Trust for funding this project, Mary and the rest of the @proteustheatre team for welcoming us into their Creation Space, Becky and Nick from @scratchbuiltproductions for their invaluable guidance and collaboration, Ross Harvie, and Alison Hamilton. We're grateful for all of the support we received to make this project happen.
#animatepuppetco #shadowpuppetry #emergingcompany
Here's a look back at our shadow puppetry R&D last week 💡🌿
This was our company's first R&D and first time we've worked with shadow puppetry! We had a brilliant 3 days exploring lighting and colour, scale, and various storytelling techniques.
As part of the R&D, we also hosted a 'Make Your Own Shadow Puppet Box' community workshop and presented a free-to-attend public sharing of what we'd discovered.
Thank you to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Four Lanes Trust for funding this project, Mary and the rest of the @proteustheatre team for welcoming us into their Creation Space, Becky and Nick from @scratchbuiltproductions for their invaluable guidance and collaboration, Ross Harvie, and Alison Hamilton. We're grateful for all of the support we received to make this project happen.
Onto the next stage of development...
#animatepuppetco #shadowpuppetry #emergingcompany #creativeincubatorfund
We're over the moon to share that Animate will be spending a few days at @wildernesshq this summer!
We cannot wait to share Bella with everyone and add the magic of this very special festival ⭐
Look at that line up!
#bellatheelephant #walkaboutact #outdoorarts #summertour
We're delighted to introduce the facilitator team for our upcoming 'Puppetry & Wellbeing' project ❤️
Left to right, back row: Daisy, Lesley, Becka, Morgan, Stephen
Front row: Jessie, Emily
Thanks to ACE's support, we've had the opportunity to connect with new local facilitators that boast an incredible depth of experience.
Yesterday's training day was an opportunity for our new team to share ideas and discuss how this exciting project will develop.
We can't wait to get started 🫶🏻
#animatepuppetco #puppetryworkshop #artscouncilsupported #puppetryandwellbeing
⭐ Job Opportunity ⭐
We're seeking dynamic facilitators to join our team and deliver high-impact creative workshops on our KS2 'Puppetry & Wellbeing Hampshire' Project - funded by Arts Council England. This is a paid position.
The full job description and information on how to apply can be found via the link in our bio!
Deadline to apply: March 18th
#animatepuppetco #puppetryworkshop #jobopportunity #facilitatoropportunity
We kicked off 2026 by hosting our 'Introduction to Puppetry' workshop for a fantastic group of students at @bada_online ❤️
A big thank you to Jen and all of those involved for being so brilliant. We had a blast!
#animate #puppetryworkshop #theatreworkshop #animatepuppetco
Throwback to September when we took Bella to STEAM '25 🎉!
This educational event created by @acspartnerships improves the career prospects of school children in the science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics sectors.
An estimated 10,000 students attended the event from 87 schools across Surrey, Kent, London, Essex and Berkshire. Throughout the day, over 60 companies and organisations offered educational activities, performances, live music and more. Students attended these activities to earn stamps which then they traded in to go on the rides!
Animate hosted an all-day drop-in puppetry workshop and performed 3 Bella walkabouts! Our workshops are always a great way for young people to make something creative by working together ❤️
Thanks to Jen, @lucykey40 , and the rest of the ACS team for making the day such a special experience 🙏🏻
See you next year!
#animatepuppetco #puppetryworkshop #theatreeducation #largescalepuppetry #bellatheelephant #acssteamevent
⭐ Lytchett Minister Sixth Form ⭐
Last Friday, Animate returned to Lytchett Minister to host an all day 'Introduction-to-Puppetry' workshop with their Sixth Form students.
We always have the best time at LMS! Well done to all the students involved for their fantastic work and thank you to Natalie for your continued support 🙏
"Thanks again to you and Lucas. We had a fantastic day too! The students were buzzing in rehearsals after school, telling all the cast about it. I had year 12 yesterday who said it was the best workshop they had done!"
We can't wait to see you again soon!
#animatepuppetco #puppetryworkshop #theatreeducation #theatreworkshop
⭐ Our first walk as part of the 'Walking and Wheeling Festival 2025' ⭐
About the festival: Eastleigh Borough Council and @hampshire_county_council have funded @sustrans to deliver the Borough’s first 30-day Walking and Wheeling Festival to help residents ‘Walk, wheel and connect’. Local organisations, artists and volunteers are providing over 30 free led and self-led routes across the Borough over 30 days.
Our next walks: September 9th, 10am & 2pm
#animate #puppetryworkshop #communityarts
We are thrilled to be partnering with @sustrans and #eastleighboroughcouncil for this year's Walking and Wheeling Festival 🎉
We're hosting 3 walks across the month on the new Boorley Green development. Our relaxed walk will explore the pathways and grounds of the new estate, including Ford Lake. At the end of the walks, Animate will be hosting a 1 hour puppetry workshop on Borley Green Park. Participants will create short stories together before sharing their work with the rest of the group.
Event booking link in our bio!
#animate #communityarts #walkingandwheelingfestival #puppetryworkshop
