Toy Theaters, How-To, Toy theater workshops, Skyhigh Puppeteers

Here's how my first Toy Theatre started out! These large juice boxes are an excellent choice because they are made of very sturdy cardboard and they are the just the right shape for one of these creations!
I took my apple box outside on a sunny day and gave it a few good coats of silver spray paint. It's important to completely paint whatever box you're using as it gives a nice blank canvas to work with. I later wished I'd spray painted the inside too . . . next time!
I had an outdated calendar with artwork by Patricia Wyatt called Keepers of the Dream. Patricia creates a new 'Keepers of the Dream' Calendar every year. I hadn't discarded the calendar because the artwork was so beautiful and I knew one day I would find some use for it. I enjoy working with first nations legends so it was perfect!
There are all sorts of things you can use to create your Story Box or Toy Theatre. At Yahk Elementary School, our Drama Club created Christmas Theme Toy Theatres. Working with a theme like Christmas, the raw materials are easy to gather. Use old Christmas cards, wrapping paper, magazines and especially, your imagination! Computers are also a great way to create your own artwork or you could search the internet for free clipart and images to print out and collage onto your Toy Theatre.
Pick a story or theme Gather your materials Greeting cards, a calendar, magazines . . . A sturdy box Good scissors Glue Stick A Glue Gun is handy too An exacto knife or carton knife A big table to work on is best (it's nice to have room to lay out your pieces as you begin to put things together.) So, you've painted your box, and assembled your supplies. Now it's time to decide what shape your 'stage front' will be. I used my collage material as a guide, glued a border on the front of the box and cut that shape out of the front of my apple box. I cut it out carefully so that the front piece could be used later as a 'curtain'. Next, cut out a whole bunch of images that fit your theme. Cut out more than you think you'll use. It's nice to have lots of bits and pieces to work with. The cutting out is an important part of your project. Cut carefully and neatly. It'll make a big difference to your finished theatre. Decorate the exterior of your theatre making sure you glue the pieces on really well. The next step is to create your theater interior ~ your stage! For your story or play you will want to make scenery drops, backgrounds and character slides. I hope these notes give you some new ideas on how you can create your own original toy theatre from almost anything!
	Contact Nicola Finch Box 4744 Williams Lake BC Canada V2G2V7 nicolafinch@canada.com MEADOW RANCH HOME
Check out the toy theatre links on this page for wonderful ideas and free downloads to print and use. Have a good look around when you get there ~ it's well worth the time. Making Toy Theatres by Brian Marshall How to Build Toy Theaters This page was originally created especially for the members of the Yahk Elementary School Noon Hour Drama Club ~ Luke, Rita, Cynthia, Rachel, Shauna, Tyler, Rebecca and Stephen in 2001.