Assistant puppet maker apprenticeship

Support the design, manufacture and performance of puppets

As an assistant puppet maker you will support the design, manufacture and performance of puppets for theatre, film, TV, carnival, animation, applied puppetry and outdoor arts. You may work for a single senior puppet maker or as part of a wider technical and performance team led by a creative director. During the assistant puppet maker apprenticeship you’ll be responsible for contributing to the care of your puppets, including how they are handled, stored, transported and used during a performance or a production. You will learn how to undertake basic repairs to puppets and choose appropriate materials for manufacture to aid their preservation. Alongside the design and manufacture of puppets, you’ll need an awareness of the performance of puppets for live and recorded productions, and as such must have knowledge of creative performance principles to ensure puppets can be animated in line with performance scripts.

Duration: 18 months

Relevant school subjects: Art, DT and drama

Entry requirements for the assistant puppet maker apprenticeship: Depend on employer, but likely GCSEs or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience

Achievement upon completion: Level 3 (Advanced) – equivalent to A-levels

Potential salary upon completion: £20,000

Find out more: www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk