This week in #thecraftycupboard @thegugg we are making a doorway theatre for the puppets we made last week…You are going to need a large, or two medium sized, cardboard boxes and a kit from the cupboard. There are still a few puppet making kits available too if you wish to swell your cast…but if you don’t want to make any just use Barbie and Ken….teddy and panda or draw a face on a wooden spoon or two!
1. Including your kit from the Crafty Cupboard you will also need one large, or two medium sized, cardboard boxes, some strong, wide tape, a sharp craft knife, a bradle [or skewer], some scissors, a permanent marker, PVA, poster paint……
2. ……and a door!
3. First of all flatten your box[es], cutting along one corner with your craft knife [get an adult to do this for you – craft knives are sharp!] to create a long, flat piece.
4. Offer one piece of cardboard up to your door and mark the point at which it fits, snuggly, between the two door jambs.
5. Cut your cardboard into sections of the same width as the door. [TIP: use your adult to do the craft knife bits…]
6. Depending upon the size of your cardboard box[es] this will determine how many pieces you will need in order to create……
7. ….a flat piece that, when taped together and stood on end, is tall enough in the doorway for you to stand behind unseen, plus an extra 30cms or so taller; to create the stage surround. [TIP: make sure that you tape the cardboard pieces together on the side that was originally the outside of the box so that any labels or lettering will eventually be on the back side of the doorway theatre].
8. Use any left over carboard to strengthen taped joints.
9. Flip over the sheet and, using your marker pen, create the design for your theatre. Draw a box for where the ‘stage’ will be. [TIP: if you lay down next to the sheet of cardboard you can ensure that the square for the stage is low to mid eye level for your height].
10. Start painting! [TIP: start with lighter colours first, then move to the darker ones and let each colour dry thoroughly before moving on to the next].
11. Let the theatre dry thoroughly and then….
12. …add the rest of your design elements using materials and card from the Crafty Cupboard, or anything you have at home. Then with the craft knife, carefully or using an adult, cut out and remove the stage rectangle to create your puppet theatre stage opening.
13. Next, take the material you have selected for your stage curtains and use the cut out piece of card as a template to determine the size they will need to be. Leave at least 5-8cms around each edge.
14. Cut the material into equal halves.
15. Using the bradle make an even number of holes at an equal distance, along the top edge of your two curtains.
16. thread the two curtains onto your cane, starting from front to back.
17. Lay your curtain ‘rail’ on to the theatre and make two marks near to where each end of where the cane reaches above the ‘stage’ hole [as shown].
18. Using your craft knife cut two slits where your marks are and then thread the cane through from back to front to back [as shown] and then secure the cane front and back with tape.
19. Disguise the cane holes with a design element. This will mean that your curtain ‘pole’ is behind the scenes but that the curtains can hang over in front.
20. Using your sharp skewer/bradle make two holes along the top of your theatre and add string to hang it in the doorway. then with a marker pen, or more paint, name your theatre!
21. Create the opportunity to use interchangeable scenery by placing two split pins from front to back, just above the curtains.
22. You can then either paint scenery or use a plain backdrop for your shows by simply adding or removing sheets of paper from the back.
23. Adjust the length of the string to the right length so that , when it is hung from a tack or drawing pin from the top of the door, your theatre reaches all the way to the floor.
24 Your theatre is complete….
Select your puppets and entertain your family and friends!
