Make a Puppet and Bring It to Life!

Something Completely Different

A hands-on one-day workshop facilitated by Bridget Sanders of Birdlife Productions, offering a delightful opportunity to build your own Practice Puppet (in the style of a table-top Sandglass training puppet) and explore some simple techniques to bring it to life.

Perfect for anyone curious about puppetry, practitioners wanting to expand their toolbox, and lovers of handmade craft.

No prior experience needed — just enthusiasm and a generous puppetry heart!

Event Details

Timing: Full day (9am - approx 5pm)

Price: $130

Value of included Materials (approx): $12

Materials provided: All puppet making materials provided.

What to bring: Bring your own lunch, working clothes and comfortable shoes, notebook and pen. Please advise accessibility needs in advance.

You will leave with: Your own practice puppet.

Where: NMIT Workshop G121

Age suitability: 16+

June 20, 2026 9:00 am

NMIT Workshop G121

Price: $130

Conc: $100

Bridget Sanders

Bridget is producer and creative director of Birdlife Productions - a puppet theatre company who create and perform around Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad.

After establishing her home in Whakatū Nelson for many years, she now lives in Pōneke Wellington. Her training includes: Mask & Clown (John Bolton Theatre School, Melbourne), Puppetry (Sandglass Puppet Theatre, USA and Akiko Miyamoto, Nelson), and Puppet Making (Judith Hope, UK and Tim Denton, Melbourne).

Founder of the Wellington Puppetry Festival (2024 and 2026), Bridget is passionate about passing on her knowledge as she believes puppetry has the power to ignite our imaginations, enliven all our lives, and offer a powerful alternative to screen culture for both young and old.

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