Welcome to the world of
Puppet Tree!
Puppet Tree makes story, play, dance, excitement, mystery,
laughter and wonder a part of everyone’s experiences!
Puppet Tree is here for individuals, groups & communities who want to find a new direction, a new confidence or a new story to tell.
Puppet Tree is for people like you...
Puppet Tree is Ian and Allyson Craigan, experienced community artists and musicians. Please take a look around the website and if you have any comments or questions, get in touch through the "contact us" page.
Recent activity
I am Ra!
Year 6 at Warndon Primary has been bringing ancient Egyptian creation myths to life, telling tales of Ra, Osiris, Thoth, Sekhmet and Nut using masks, music, shadow puppets and drama. After only five 80 min sessions they presented their stories to Reception children to tremendous applause!
Destiny!
Ian has been working as Creative Partner with Year 3 at Highters Heath Community School in Birmingham, thinking about the world & what
makes different cultures and countries tick. We imagined a whole new continent, called Destiny, with three very different
countries in it; Artistica, Biznesia and Calmalot, each iof which was hit by a different natural disaster; flood, earthquake & volcano! The final performance included dance, drama and readings from the diaries of survivors. Material from the project has been captured in a special book, "The Tough Guide to Destiny", which reproduces the children's art work and writing.
Three Billy Goats Gruff
Ian joined in Arts Week at Our Lady & St Kenelm School in Halesowen, helping Reception children to make puppets and retell the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. "Our main objective was to have some fun," writes class teacher Helen Johnson. "Ian inspired the children with lots of positive encouragement and we certainly had lots of fun and produced some lovely puppets. The children were still singing and retelling the story as they went home. Fabulous! Thank you!" And thanks to all the children who sent in cards and pictures!
Scrapstores The Movie!
Ian was delighted to be involved with Scrapstores UK film all about how great they are and the wide range of things they do. Naturally they wanted to visit Worcestershire Resource Exchange (WRE) to capture the superb things on offer and while they were there Ian led a story and puppet making workshop for families in the local Home Education network. The film was shown on the Community Channel
The Wonderful world of Books
Oldbury
Park Primary has a fantastic Early Years team and they've creatd a
wonderful child-centered environment in every area of the EY unit. So
child-centered that Ian was bent double to walk round during his recent
visit there! He shared lots of stories from books, including a lovely
Australian Aborigine tale of 'How the birds got their colours'. Then
everyone had a go at making their own story using the simple structures
of traditional tales. The children sent in lots of lovely thank-you cards which you'll find all over the website
Three little pigs on a big adventure!
Ian spent an amazing three days at Moons Moat First School sharing the story and helping all three KS1 classes to make puppets. They then used the 'bare bones' of the story to create their own tales of adventure, involving witches, bulls, genies and magic stew!
Ian calls for a number of bands in the West Midlands ("...thanks to Ian whose sense of humour and boundless
energy kept us laughing and enthusiastic all evening. We will
certainly recommend you to our friends." "...please pass our thanks on to Ian who was a brilliant choice of caller who choreographed the evening with humour, patience and fun")
