Half a String Theatre Company - Peter Morton
CPD: Small world stories 
Thursday 18th April, St John's First School Frome, 3:45 - 5pm
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This CPD session explores puppetry in the classroom and is aimed at teachers, trainees and theatre practitioners working in community settings.

Half a String uses puppetry, design and original music to craft fantastical human stories that are grounded in live performance. We tour theatre, publish books and work with people of all ages to unleash creativity. Our community of artists explore ideas to create accessible, intelligent and astonishing work that champions meaningful collective experiences.

Peter is a designer and director who specialises in creating powerful stories and striking design that comes to life on stage. He specialises in intricate, detailed puppet design and likes to bring objects to life. His design work uses a variety of materials and is often challenging and complex. His set design strives to move and transform, hiding secrets, and enthralling audiences. As artistic director of Half a String he strives to find honest fantastical stories that capture and touch the hearts of audiences. ​​

Practically Perfect Pictures - Kristina Stephenson
CPD: Becoming the story: bringing books to life
Friday 3rd May, St Paul's CofE VC Junior School (Shepton Mallet), 3:45 - 5pm
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Author, costume designer, illustrator and playwright Kristina Stephenson shares her tips for bringing reading to life. Kristina trained as a set and costume designer and had a successful career in theatre and Children’s Television until she had her children. Wanting to stay at home with them she turned her hand to illustration, writing and now creating theatre for young audiences.

Seven Circles - Takeshi Matsumoto
CPD: Empathy and body and mind integration through dance
Thursday 16th May, Critchill School, Frome, 3:45 - 5pm
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Takeshi is a dance artist specializing in making dance performances for young audiences. He is also a qualified dance movement psychotherapist, having experience in working with children with autism and learning disabilities both in the UK and Japan. Growing up in Japan, his practice both in life and performing art is influenced by 和-Wa, harmony, peacefulness, quiet and contentment ways of living and balancing with others and environment.

Pirates of the Carabina - Shaena Brandel and Barnz Munn
CPD: Running away to the Circus. Storytelling through simple Circus physicality
Wednesday 12th June, St Aldhelm's (Doulting, Shepton Mallet), 3:45 - 5pm
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Shaena Brandel Creative Director Choreographer & Producer. Shaena is an Irish Aerialist, trained in the UK, with over 25 years’ experience as a Performer & Aerial teacher. She has toured extensively across the UK and internationally including with Giffords Circus (for their first two seasons), and for six years with NoFit State on their critically acclaimed shows Immortal, Tabu and Labyrinth (Eden Project). Shaena’s work with Barnz Munn developing the new discipline of counterweighted hoop, has been hugely influential in the international Circus community. She regularly consults as a creative director/ producer and aerial choreographer to a range of performance companies. Shaena has taught Aerial performance in FHE and professional contexts, alongside producing and creating work with POTC. 

aKa Dance Company - Joe Garbett and Jen Grant
CPD: 10 dance tips to inspire your curriculum
Monday 17th June, Venue TBC, Shepton Mallet, 3:45 - 5pm
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Passionate about fun and highly accessible theatre aKa is formed by Jen Grant choreographer, community teacher and practitioner and Joe Garbett: choreographer, teacher and international performer. Jen co-founded aKa Dance Theatre Company in 2014 after gaining her MA in choreography from Trinity Laban. Joe has performed at the Tate Modern, Glastonbury Festival, Sadler's Wells, World Stage Design Festival, museums, pubs, clubs and everything in between.

Angel Exit Theatre - Lynn Forbes and Tamsin Fessey
Devising and Ensemble Story Telling
Tuesday 18th June, Location TBC Near Shepton Mallet, 3:45 - 5pm
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How do you begin creating a scene or a piece of theatre? Who are the storytellers? We'll look at some physical theatre exercises to bring a story to life in a playful and inventive way, using an ensemble based approach to performance.

Formed by graduates of the prestigious Ecole Lecoq, Angel Exit Theatre is a shifting ensemble of performers with a shared passion for new dynamic physical theatre, under the artistic direction of Tamsin Fessey and Lynne Forbes.

To date Angel Exit have devised, produced and performed eight original pieces of theatre, all critically acclaimed. They have very different stories, but what the shows have in common is a strong emphasis on storytelling through physical ensemble theatre, using the European traditions of clown, chorus, melodrama, and buffoonery. Tamsin Fessey (Co-Artistic Director) trained at the International Lecoq School in Paris, after which she founded Angel Exit Theatre. She has performed in most of their productions including tours of USA, Ireland and France. Lynne Forbes (Co-Artistic Director) studied Drama at The University of Manchester and trained on the Performance Masters at Goldsmiths College.