Puppetry Designer

We’d love to work with a Puppetry Designer who is excited about children’s theatre, actor-musician work, and devising. Collaboration, flexibility, and a good sense of humour are all highly valued.

The Project:
The Pigeon who became Prime Minister is a new show for 9-12 year olds being co-created by directors Joe Gilmour and Chani Merrell, under the banner of theatre company Welcome Party.
It is an actor-muso show following Pen the Pigeon on her adventures and will provide young people with an exciting first introduction to democracy, parties, voting, and inspire confidence in their own voices.
It will feature song and dance-along moments, a mini House of Commons debate, and audience casting their first ballot to determine the outcome of the show.
The 50 minute show will be followed by an hour-long workshop, utilising the world of the play to take participants on their first steps to using art to express the change they want to see.
We have received full Arts Council Funding to develop the show over two weeks of R&D, and various showings. The Project is also supported by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, the Constitution Society, and Wonder Arts Wigan.

Dates:
Designer Prep Week, 9th-13th November (can be flexible)
R&D week 1, 16th- 20th Nov 2026 at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.
R&D week 2, 30th Nov-4th Dec 2026 between Queens Theatre Hornchurch and London.

Fee:
£631 per week, 3x weeks, £1893 total. Fee Non-inclusive of materials budget, which will also be provided. Travel and Accomodation budget available if based outside of London.