Mentoring-Coaching-Advice
Puppetry is an intriguing Art form - part sculpture, part performance and most importantly always alive and in the moment. It sits somewhere between the visual and the theatrical, where objects, movement and story meet. Discovering how the elements of this ancient craft can blend with more modern technologies and contemporary narratives is exciting but it can also be quite challenging. There are times when it all feels too much - we have too many ideas, too many options, too many directions to go in all at once.
That’s where I can help. Having worked with a wide range of makers, performers and directors and with over 30 years of experience behind me, I now offer mentoring and coaching for artists who want to explore their own creative path and discover what contemporary puppetry and micro cinema can do for them. We can talk online or work more closely with a series of face-to-face meetings or even bespoke workshops. There’s always a surprising amount we can discover about narratives, performance techniques, construction materials or the best type of camera for the job.
If this sounds like the kind of creative conversation you’re looking for for your next project, whether it’s for kids, adults, for theatre, gig, exhibition or online, then get in touch - I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Testimonials from previous Mentees
'Gavin is a very inspiring artist who I had the pleasure to work with during various residencies in Norway and Italy and then recently when he provided mentoring support on my debut show Les Nuits Troubles. Our conversations are always rich in ideas and useful advice and his passion is contagious!'
- Emilie Largier, Hors-champ (UK & Denmark)
Can highly recommend Gavin's online mentorship sessions on Microcinema - what a fascinating new realm to explore! He was incredibly knowledgeable about the technical requirements, and framed various provocations for exploring different aspects of the medium. I felt energised, motivated, and inspired by our meetings - which involved creating some experimental films, and supported me to clarify how I might apply the technique within my productions.
- Raven Kaliana, Director, Puppet (R)Evolution (UK)
'As a theatre maker working in the field of contemporary puppetry and visual theatre, I have been mentored by Gavin over the past year and a half. With his many years of experience in such a specific and nuanced genre - including puppetry, visual theatre, and microcinema - Gavin brings a rare depth of knowledge and sensitivity to every exchange. His guidance consistently opens new perspectives, offering advice that is both technically insightful and artistically meaningful. In my company Third Figure’s new project, When the Earth Gave Way, Gavin has been a guiding force in shaping and developing a unique technique with string puppets — life-size marionettes suspended from the ceiling and animated by performers standing on the ground. He offers both precise technical support, grounded in the physical principles of movement, and thoughtful dramaturgical feedback, helping to ensure that each artistic choice truly serves the story. What I value most is Gavin’s profound understanding of puppetry as a living language — one that must continually balance form and content. He reminds me how vital it is not to get lost in formal experimentation, but to let meaning and form grow together.
After Gavin’s masterclass in Stamsund, Norway, and through our ongoing conversations about my work, I often feel as though I’m discovering puppetry for the first time again. Not because I understand it less, but because each encounter reveals new, exciting ways to think about this genre — and to bring those discoveries to life in practice.'
- Edgars Niklasons, theatre maker (Latvia)