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Basic Mechanisms for Puppetry

Saturday · Workshops

Jon Coddington

When
9:30–11:00am · 90 mins
Ages
Adult (14+)
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A mechanical four-legged dog puppet built from wood, metal and foam, showing its internal movement mechanism

In this workshop we’ll look at Puppet mechanisms and how to incorporate them into puppet designs. Participants will get the chance to build prototypes from basic materials, and learn techniques to expand from small prototypes, to large scale work. For Puppetry enthusiasts and anyone interested in puppet design.

A mechanical four-legged dog puppet built from wood, metal and foam, showing its internal movement mechanism
Jon Coddington smiling while operating a large vulture puppet with tattered wings, in front of a seated workshop audience

About the artist

Jon Coddington is a New Zealand-based theatre designer, illustrator, animator, and President of UNIMA Aotearoa NZ, who has worked primarily as a puppeteer and puppet-maker for over 13 years. A graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, his highlights include the hit marionette show Puppet Fiction, creating and performing puppets for Fat Freddy’s Drop music videos, and performing on stage with Coldplay. He has worked in screen puppetry (Custard’s World, Sweet Tooth), with training from Muppeteer Peter Linz, and in theatre has made Taniwhas with Silo Theatre, Vultures with Indian Ink, Trolls with Trick of the Light, and Crocodiles with Auckland Theatre Company, amongst many others.

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