Piano to Puppet

An 8 day intensive puppetry course in Edinburgh’s legendary Pianodrome, an amphitheatre built entirely from pianos.

Join us to deconstruct a room full of pianos, turn them into puppets, bring them to life and put on a show!

At a Glance

1st – 8th August 2026
10am – 6pm
Granton Pianodrome and Bruntsfield Pianodrome
Advance booking needed
£490

Join us this summer in Edinburgh’s Pianodrome for a creative exploration of piano puppetry!

We will start with a room full of disused pianos, turn them into a cast of puppet characters, and bring them to life. The moving parts inside pianos are perfect for puppet making, as they are lightweight and beautifully crafted, and the wealth of odd shapes offers endless potential for character creation.

The course will finish with a puppet show in the Pianodrome, an amphitheatre constructed entirely from pianos, whose unique structure offers huge potential for pushing the boundaries of puppetry.

Tutors

Mari Jones - Puppet Maker

Mari Jones – Puppet Making

Mari is a professional puppet maker of 14 years. She founded Picture to Puppet in 2012, and now manages a team of makers producing custom puppets for clients around the world.

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Victoria Compson- Bradford – Performance

Victoria Compson-Bradford is a professional puppeteer and actor with a strong background in physical performance and character work. She recently toured with 101 Dalmatians, The Musical, and alongside her performance work, she teaches puppetry, supporting performers in developing practical skills and bringing characters to life on stage.

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Course Content

Things we will do

Dismantle a Piano

We will open up a disused piano and take out all the moving parts.

Character Creation

We will experiment with laying out piano parts to indicate characters. Students will be encouraged to explore a wide range of figures, sizes and styles.

Puppet Making

Participants will learn to construct their puppets using various tools, methods and control types.

Puppetry workshops

Participants will be guided in exploring creative means of expression through manipulating their puppets.

Show Development

Victoria will work lead the participants in designing and choreographing a performance to music in this fascinating space.

Final Show

The final show will take place in the Bruntsfield pianodrome at the beginning of the Edinburgh Fringe.

Sign Up

Book your Place Now

Places on the course are £490 for 8 days. We ask for a £245 deposit to secure your place and the remainder is due before the first day of the course. Use the following sign up form and we will then send you an invoice for the deposit.

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