Exercise 1- How does it move?
Exercise 2-- Exploring the object
Exercise 3 -What can it be?
Exercise 4- Telling stories with multiple objects
Exercise 5- Combined objects as anthropomorphic characters
Discover Object Theatre with Sean!
In this fun and imaginative video series, Sean introduces Object Theatre to Early Years learners!
Watch as he explores how everyday objects can become storytelling tools, bringing characters and adventures to life.
Through playful exercises, Sean demonstrates how objects have their own unique movements and characteristics, helping us create engaging and magical stories for children.
Playing with everyday objects
Children naturally explore the world through touch, sight, sound, and movement. By playing with everyday objects, they can discover new possibilities and spark their imaginations! In these fun exercises, Sean demonstrates creative ways to bring objects to life—showing how a small bucket, gloves, a sponge, a shoe, a funnel, and a sheet can all become part of a playful storytelling adventure.
Try it yourself! Gather some objects, follow along with the videos, or watch first for inspiration.
Ready to play? Watch the videos and start having fun with objects!
Learn more about...
with Helenandjohn
For the Beverley puppet festival in 2020, artist Helen Ainsworth explains the basics of object theatre and will show you how to bring to life some household objects, transforming them into a fabulous menagerie! Music by: Ketsa and Shaolin Dub. Helen Ainsworth and John Mowat are a creative duo who have collaborated together for over 5 years.
Learn more about Helenandjohn.
What Babies See
Fascinating research by Linda B. Smith about how babies see objects and the world around them in this article and video form APS ( Association for Psychological Science). The research helps us to understand how babies perceive objects they encounter in the first two years of this lives. Linda has taken a new approach to this line of inquiry by trying to see the world through children’s own eyes.
Learn more about this research...
Artist Biography
Sean Myatt is a senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, School of Theatre Design, and is a puppetry specialist. He has over 30 years experience as a puppeteer and performer, working nationally and internationally, leading puppetry teams within the Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics and acting as a consultant for high profile shows and events, including Kate Bush’s 2014 show Before the Dawn.
Sean has been a practicing puppeteer for as long as he can remember. His work encompasses traditional and contemporary puppetry with a research interest in performing objects. Sean is currently a Senior Lecturer in theatre design at Nottingham Trent University, where he graduated in 1987.
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