Puppetry Space
Puppetry Lab is a trauma-informed series of puppetry workshops designed with vulnerable children at its heart. In this program, children, parents, and carers explore all kinds of puppets and emotional skills while creating, connecting and building resilience together.
Puppetry Lab is dedicated to vulnerable children aged 5 to 11, supporting empowerment, resilience and emotional intelligence through art, playfulness and creativity.
Through fun and engaging puppetry workshops, children develop their creativity and enhance emotional regulation while exploring different stories, making puppets and learning how to bring them to life. The project also explores the themes of emotional awareness, mental health, courage, and resiliency and celebrates children’s growth and experiences.
Puppetry Lab is offered free of any cost, and it works in collaboration with different funding partners and child-focused organisations. Its research and creation was proudly supported by the Arts Council England.
How does it Work
At every workshop, carers and children will:
-
Learn how to make a different kind of puppet.
-
Explore different types of feelings through beautiful children’s books.
-
Have the opportunity to create their own stories.
-
Expand their understanding of their own feelings.
-
Build emotional resilience.
Meet the Facilitators
.png)
Raquel Bellastella
Founder & Artistic Director
Raquel is a theatre director and social entrepreneur. Her work is based on collaborative creation, physical theatre, puppetry and storytelling. She also hosts the Art Impact Podcast, sharing tools for thriving as a socially-engaged artist today. She dreams of a world where everyone can access the tools they need to unleash their full creative potential.
She graduated in Art Education (UNESP, Brazil) and post-graduated in Devising Theatre (LISPA, London). She’s honoured to have been mentored by the late actor/storyteller Sotigui Kouyaté, awarded Silver Bear for Best Actor, and to follow his teaching practice closely. She devised and performed theatre shows in Brazil, Spain and the UK.
tANIA SUTHERLAND
Associate Dramatherapist
Tania has worked with children across many settings, including Children’s Services - complex trauma and attachment disorders, Looked After, Fostered and Adopted Children, Primary and Secondary Schools, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and privately. She is a HCPC registered Dramatherapist and a full member of the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth) with qualifications in MA Dramatherapy (Distinction) and BA Drama (Hons). She’s passionate about supporting children and working with families and is the Whale Therapy Project founder.