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Shadow puppets

Wild Winter Stories

In 2021 we received a DCC Covd recovery grant to create 4
new shadow puppet stories based on winter. The 4 stories
were filmed and edited by Ellin Hare and showed on line as
well as to live audiences from December to March 2022.
The 4 winter stories were written and performed by John Quinn,
Elaine Beard and Jeannie May. The puppets were created by
Nicola Balfour and Jyl Friggens. The stories focussed on
emotional wellbeing, solidarity and connection with the wild
nature of winter. The audiences at each show created their own
puppets to tell their own stories to each other.

Wild Winter Stories

Wild About Winter was an Ace-funded project from December 2020- April 2021.
The aim of the project was to connect to our local community during lockdown through storytelling and the local landscape to find new ways of producing and sharing creative outdoor experiences.


We created an online episodic story written by John Quinn performed and devised by Elaine Beard and Jeannie May, filmed and edited by Ellin Hare.
Nicola Balfour and Jyl Friggens created large-scale land art pieces at Hawthorh Hive.
Nicola Balfour created large-scale cut-outs in the windows of Blackhall Community Centre that related to the unfolding story.
We created and delivered art packs that linked to each episode of the story to over 1,000 people in East Durham. We hosted an online Facebook community where people shared their photographs of winter and responses to the stories and land art. Jon Codd created the Winter Wolf which travelled around East Durham to share people’s experiences of being in lockdown.

Child making shadow story

Winter Stories

DECEMBER'S STORY

JANUARY'S STORY

FEBRUARY'S STORY

MARCH'S STORY

How to Make Your Shadow Puppets

Watch the video to learn how to make your very own shadow puppets.

Shape of animal
shape of bird
shape of owl
shape of hare
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