Antony Hall - Table Top Experiments

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A muscular alien dwells in extreme heat on mercury, living on rock and dust.

Shadow play is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment using articulated figures in front of an illuminated backdrop to create the illusion of moving images.
Shadow puppetry is ideal education format - practical any theme can be covered -

A neighbour lent me a DVD of Lotte Reiniger’s 'Prince Achmed', the first feature length animation made in stop frame using only paper silhouettes. From that point I was hooked. I decided I had to do something.

On Venus

I developed some work shops based around themes of the Space & Planets and insects. I introduce scientific ideas - coupled with close observation of insects using a live microscope and macro lens camera plugged into the white board. With this I have a series of drawing exercises leading to the creation of characters aliens or insect creatures for example. The puppets are cut out of card and detailed using coloured gels ( & transparent acetate) & marker pens, and even articulated to create simple movements. Finally each group plans and presents a show to the rest of the class.

Jovians with tentacles float about in Jupiter; they also have an excellent floating
sofa and spears with wings.

An alien from the Moon Titan.

Slug like Martian creatures with one eye occupy Mars.

Aliens visit a shop on venus before returning to their home, the moon Io.

This alien puppet also had moving eyes.

Images from workshops at
Lansdowne Learning Community, Tilbury Town, Thurrock with thanks to...

Creative Partnerships Thurrock.