Build a Large-Scale Rod Puppet

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Large-scale puppets have long been part of celebrations, protests, parades and theatre traditions around the world. They are bold images in motion—tools for storytelling that can transform public space and gather communities together.

About the workshop

Rod puppets are powerful and practical performance objects: they are animated by a single puppeteer and typically consist of a sculpted head mounted on a wooden rod, with flowing fabric that both enhances movement and partially or fully conceals the puppeteer. Some designs may also include a movable arm attached to a secondary rod.

Participants will design and build their own rod puppet using clay, papier-mâché, wood, and reclaimed fabric. The process includes sculpting, structural building, painting, costuming, and introductory animation.

This workshop is designed for adult learners (18+).

Workshop Details

Workshop fee

$350 - Includes materials, six studio sessions, one open studio (OS)*, and one design consultation. ‍*This is an extra session for participants who need a bit more time and would like to complete their work in studio.

Please contact us if cost is a barrier.

Capacity and who’s it for?

8 to 10 participants; adult learners, 18 and over.

Event Dates & Time

Thursday, April 30, 6:30–9:00pm Saturday, May 2, 11am to 3pm Thursday, May 7, 6:30–9:00pm Saturday, May 9, 11am to 3pm Thursday, May 14, 6:30–9:00pm Saturday, May 16, 11am to 3pm Thursday, May 21, 5:30–9:00pm (OS)

Pre-Workshop Consultation

April 25–29 (Zoom meetings scheduled individually)
A one-on-one design conversation on Zoom to discuss your puppet idea, materials and construction approach. This session helps clarify your vision and explores technical details of your design idea before the studio work begins.

Location

Raucous Caucus Collective Studio 219 Augusta, Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2L4

Getting there

By TTC: Take the 506 College streetcar to Augusta Avenue (one block west of Spadina) and walk south - the studio is just past Baldwin Avenue. Alternatively, take the subway to Spadina Station and transfer to the 510 Spadina streetcar, disembarking at Nassau Street (two blocks south of College). Continue west to Augusta Avenue.

Parking: Street parking in Kensington Market (particularly on the weekends) is limited. The nearest Green P is Carpark 68 at 20 St Andrew Street.

Accessibility

The Collective Studio is on the main floor of the building with an entrance ramp and an interior ramp to access the studio washroom.

If you have additional access needs you would like to share in advance, please contact us. While we cannot guarantee every accommodation, we will do our best to find appropriate solutions whenever possible.

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What you’ll learn

Participants will gain experience in both craft and performance, including:

  • Designing an image for a real-world context

  • Clay sculpting for puppet heads

  • Papier-mâché construction techniques

  • Basic armatures and understructures

  • Painting and surface finishing

  • Costume design and fabric movement

  • Rigging and balance for rod puppets

  • Introductory puppetry animation

This workshop also explores the history and social power of giant puppetry, including its role in public storytelling, pageantry, theatre, and civic expression.

Bring an Idea: Imagining Your Puppet

Before the workshop begins, participants are asked to imagine an event or context where their puppet might appear. You don’t need to commit to performing with the puppet—this is simply a way to help focus your creative vision.

Thinking about the context is crucial and helps shape the puppet’s gesture, expression, scale and costume.

Possible inspirations include:

Celebrations

  • Toronto Pride Parade

  • Honouring a community member

  • Summer or Winter Solstice rituals

Public Actions

  • Affordable housing advocacy

  • Climate justice or environmental action

  • Peace and solidarity movements

Performances

  • A character for a new play or Fringe show

  • Experimental object puppetry

  • A visual storytelling image

Workshop Sessions

  • Introduction to giant puppetry traditions, image design discussion, materials planning and clay preparation.

  • Build armatures and begin sculpting puppet heads.

  • Complete sculptures, begin and complete papier-mâché construction.

  • Remove forms, add wire structure, begin painting and costume work.

  • Finish painting, construct costumes and begin puppet rigging.

  • Complete rigging and explore puppet movement and animation.

  • This is an extra session for participants who need a bit more time and would like to complete their work in studio.

Register Now

Space is limited to 8–10 participants. Please complete the form below and we'll follow up to confirm your spot and schedule your design consultation.

This workshop is open to adults (18+).