About the School of Puppetry

The Toronto School of Puppetry was founded in the spring of 1996, when Johan Vandergun of Lampoon Puppettheatre and Ann Powell and David Powell of Puppetmongers discussed the lack of professional development and puppetry education available for adult learners in Toronto. We decided to do something about it; so ever since then Puppetmongers, with their partners in the puppetry and theatre community, have presented seasons of classes and courses in a wide range of puppet and puppetry related skills.

Since 1996 about 250 adult students from all over North America have participated in more than 100 classes and courses. Some registrants are theatre, puppetry or arts professionals or students, some are teachers, educators or social workers, many are from other backgrounds, but all share a passion for puppetry.

Each season holds a different roster of offerings. Past classes have been on marionette, shadow puppetry, giant and parade puppets, glove or hand puppets, rod puppets, puppetry for TV, table top “Bunraku” puppetry, object theatre, mask, music, staging, play development, marketing, and how to run a small theatre company.


Katie and her old man, 2003

Instructors have included:

  • Ann Powell and David Powell, Puppetmongers. Puppetry in general
  • Alyson McMackon, Theatre Rusticle. Arts administration
  • Barbara Klunder, visual artist. Poster design
  • Brad Harley & Anne Barber, Shadowland Theatre. Shadow puppetry
  • Chris Earle, Night Kitchen Theatre. Directing
  • Clarissa De Young, arts administrator. Arts administration
  • David Anderson, Clay & Paper Theatre. Pageant puppetry
  • David Smith, David Smith Marionettes in Kingston. Marionette making
  • Gail Geltner, visual artist. Shadow puppetry
  • Jamie Shannon, Nanaland. Panelist
  • Johan Vandergun, Lampoon Puppettheatre. Rod, glove and shadow puppetry
  • John Nolan, Rag & Bone Theatre in Ottawa. Techniques and materials
  • Katherine Curtin, Fifth Sun Theatre. Mask making
  • Lisa Nabieszko, STAF. Arts administration
  • Mark Brownell, Pea Green Theatre. Dramaturgy
  • Mark Cassidy, Threshold Theatre. Directing
  • Members of Old Trout Puppet Workshop from Calgary. Latex casting & movement
  • Members of Number 11 Theatre. Movement and voice
  • Nat McHaffey, visual artist. Mask making
  • Michael Kelly. Shakespear in Action. Directing
  • Rick Sacks,composer and musician. Music and sound effects
  • Rob Mills, Radical Sheep Productions. Manipulation for TV
  • Ronnie Burkett, Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes. Panelist
  • Sara Barker, Theatre CounterClockWise. Play creation
  • Sue Miner, Pea Green Theatre. Transitions
  • Yvonne Ng, Princess Productions. Movement

For more information please call us at 416-691-0806 or email