Making Theatre Gaining Skills offers free and exciting classes for everyone – explore new interests, learn practical skills, and connect with others in a supportive and inclusive environment, regardless of your background or experience. All our courses are free for anyone aged 16 and over. No previous experience or qualifications are necessary. If you’re interested in any of our courses, please contact us to sign up:

• 01243 306800
• learn@makingtheatre.co.uk

Community Courses

Scenic Prop Making (Mondays, 9:30am – 12:00pm)

We’ll work together to design and make a cake-filled bakery window display as a set for our December production at Makerspace. We will be exploring the possibilities of large scale prop making and scenic painting effects, using mainly recycled and repurposed everyday objects to bring your designs to life. Learning how to create various texture effects using paint, pattern making with handmade stencils, trompe l’oeil illusion painting and more techniques along the way. Join us for a sweet treat of a course – beginners welcome.

Every Monday, 3rd Nov – 1st Dec (5 weeks).

Costume Making (Mondays, 1:30pm – 4:00pm)

Work in a friendly team to build on your sewing skills to create costumes that add detail to characters that will help bring a performance to life.Beginners welcome  – no prior experience required!

Every Monday, 3rd Nov – 1st Dec (5 weeks).

Puppetry SPECIAL Advanced Course (Tuesdays, 10:00am – 12:30pm)

Come and make new puppets for our Christmas show, learn fresh techniques, and bring them to life in performance. We’ll also explore new stop-motion filming. This course is open to anyone who has completed a previous puppetry course with us, or who already has experience making and operating puppets.

Every Tuesday, 30th Oct – 21st Nov (4 weeks).

Taster Sessions

Puppetry & Animation Taster Sessions (Wednesdays & Thursdays, 10:00am – 1:00pm)

Learn some stop motion animation (the technique behind Wallace and Gromit films) – using Lego to make scenes and characters. Plus, try out some simple puppet making using a range of craft techniques. No experience necessary, beginners welcome. These taster sessions are aimed at 16-25 year olds who are interested in joining our training towards employment sessions later in the year, but are open to all.

Runs Weds and Thurs mornings through 1st – 16th October (3 weeks).

Theatre & Puppetry Taster Sessions (Two Day Courses, 10:00am to 3:00pm)

Over these two-day courses, you’ll have the opportunity to try a range of theatre crafts and skills, including: set building and painting, prop making, puppet making, stop motion animation and lighting and sound effects. No experience necessary, beginners welcome. These taster sessions are aimed at 16-25 year olds who are interested in joining our training towards employment sessions later in the year.

• First two day course runs 22nd – 23rd October.
• Second two day course runs 5th – 6th November.

Four Week Intensive Course

From November we will be running a four-week intensive course aimed at supporting participants who are looking for work. Please contact us for further details.

To find out more and to book a place call 01243 306800 or email learn@makingtheatre.co.uk.

Volunteering Opportunities