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WORKSHOPS WITH PINS AND NEEDLES

We're passionate about inspiring the next generation of theatre makers and our workshops are made to support and encourage creativity and innovation.

Our practitioners are experienced in leading workshops for all ages and levels. Whether you have a class of seven year olds eager to play with props and puppets, or you are an emerging artist looking for some guidance or professional development opportunities, we can adapt our workshops to suit you or your group depending on your experience and needs. 

Our workshops offer skills progression and fun in an inclusive and dynamic environment. Just get in touch with us to discuss how we might be able to help.  See below for some examples of the types of workshop we offer.

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PUPPETRY

We love using puppets as a storytelling tool and have used an array of different techniques and forms in our work - from shadow work to large scale puppets, from object manipulation through to Bunraku. This workshop is a hands-on session where you will have the chance to animate simple puppets, looking at breathing, focus and building sequences to tell stories. We’ll discuss the creative choices available to theatre makers and reflect on both the puppet design process and puppetry direction.

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THE DIRECTOR / DESIGNER RELATIONSHIP

Pins and Needles is founded on the relationship between a Director and a Designer. This workshop is aimed at theatre makers interested in creative collaboration and the opportunities presented by the meeting of directing and design practices. We break down our process, looking at how we develop a shared vision, the twists and turns of the model box process, and what close partnership working can mean for the resulting work on stage. We will cover a range of creative strategies and tools in a practical session aimed at stimulating new artistic conversations.

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ADAPTATION

Our work centres of the idea of transformation and we love nothing more than taking a known story and reinventing it for the stage. Over the past 12 years, we’ve built a reputation for our innovative adaptations, including UK Theatre Award winning ‘Little Mermaid’ and Olivier nominated ‘Oi Frog and Friends!’ This workshop unpacks the company’s page-to-stage process, covering everything from deciding which story to tell, through to planning and conducting R&D, script development and the rehearsal period. 

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MAKING YOUR OWN WORK

Thinking about starting a theatre company and don’t know where to begin? This workshop is aimed at intrepid go-getters with a creative idea they want to share with audiences, but no idea how to go about achieving it. We’ll share tips and know-how accumulated over the past 12 years as we’ve grown from a fringe company with no contacts or budget, to an award-winning theatre company with an established reputation. We’ll cover everything from developing pitches and winning commissions, through to creating budgets and writing funding applications.