Creative Writing
Creative Writing
Windswept Workshops provides bespoke and accessible creative writing and storytelling workshops for all ages. From collage poetry to collaborative story games, we endeavour to defeat barriers to participation and celebrate our storytellers' works. Emphasis is on building a compelling narrative, rather than on spelling and grammar, and all of our storytellers will leave each session with a story to work on.
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All of our sessions are led by First Class Creative Writing graduates Erin Gilbey and Gaby Songui. Gaby is a writer with special interests in diversity and identity. Her work has been showcased at Selly Manor Museum and through the New Works Playhouse. Meanwhile Erin's writing, which explores climate justice and place, has seen her twice shortlisted for the Royal Court Writing group, and published in a Sampad poetry anthology.
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If you contact us to book a creative writing or storytelling session then we will work with you to create the right workshop for your participants.
Please feel free to get in touch with us at windsweptworkshopscic@gmail.com if you would like to hire us to run any of the above workshops.
Theatre
Theatre
Windswept runs unique and accessible theatre and performance workshops for all ages, with an emphasis on devising and story-building. Our theatre workshops can be tailored to a literary, historical or geographical theme, or built around the memories and experiences of participants.
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If you contact us to book a theatre session then we will work with you to create the right workshop for your participants.
Paper Puppets
Paper Puppets
Using five pieces of A4 paper and some sellotape, participants will create a basic paper marionette. These marionettes are often used by puppeteers as placeholders for more complex puppets while a performance is in rehearsal. In this workshop, we use them to learn how to animate a puppet and bring its character to life.
Time: 1 Hour
Resources:
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5 pieces of A4 paper
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Sellotape
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Scissors
Shadow Puppets
Shadow Puppets
In this workshop, participants will learn how to make basic shadow puppets, dynamic (moving) shadow puppets and colourful shadow puppets. They will be provided with templates to follow and also have the opportunity to create their own puppet, and to animate it afterwards. This workshop also has a storytelling element, where we take the characters we have created on a journey.
Time: 1 - 1.5 Hours
Resources:
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Thin card or cardboard
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Sticks, pencils or lollipop sticks
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Split pins or old earrings
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Cellophane or Quality Street wrappers
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Sellotape
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Scissors
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Torch/ lamp or phone light
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Printer (printing templates is optional)
Junk Puppets
Junk Puppets
This workshop uses cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, tinfoil, egg cartons, bubble wrap, and whatever other bits of rubbish or household items you have to hand. Participants will design whatever puppet they wish to make, whether they are copying a tv character, their favourite animal, or something completely new, and then create it using the resources at hand. They will then create a story for their puppets to perform!
Time: half-day with performance, 1.5 hours without performance, or drop-in
Resources:
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Household rubbish i.e. cardboard boxes, old bottes..
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Glue stick
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Sellotape
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Scissors
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Decorative items i.e. lollipop sticks, googly eyes… (optional)
Sock Puppets
Sock Puppets
In this workshop, we will be making our own sock puppet! These puppets can be customised to give participants a unique puppet to take home! We will work to tell stories with the puppets, trying out different voices and sounds.
Time: 1 hour
Resources:
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Sock
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Glue (preferably hot-glue gun or fabric glue)
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Felt
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Googly eyes
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Coloured pens
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Other decorative resources i.e. pom poms, pipe cleaners… (optional)
Two-hand Stringless Marionettes
Two-hand Stringless Marionettes
Participants will learn how to make and animate a two-handed gummy tape puppet. The puppets are durable and professional. There will be the opportunity to personalise your puppet with different facial features and hand shapes.
Time: Two x 2-hour workshops
Resources:
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Light-weight air-dry clay
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Gummed tape
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Garden wire
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Cling film
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Water
One-hand Stringless Marionettes
One-hand Stringless Marionettes
Participants will create a simple one-handed marionette from clay, fabric and wire. The second half of the workshop will be dedicated to practising animating the puppets and giving them personalities.
Time: 1.5 hours
Resources:
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Light-weight air-dry clay
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Wire
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Super glue
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Square of fabric
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2 pennies
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2 elastic bands
Please feel free to get in touch with us at windsweptworkshopscic@gmail.com if you would like to hire us to run any of the above workshops.
Emerging Freelancers
Emerging Freelancers
Windswept Workshops want to help young, aspiring freelancers and artists to navigate the world of freelancing. Freelancing is often seen as just an alternative vocational route, and the only advice given is to excel in your chosen field. However, there is so much more than just being a brilliant artist, actor, or producer, and there are so many ways to shape your freelancing career.
Our careers began during the start of a pandemic, so we offer a unique perspective on building a network, running events, and showcasing your art. We want to give you an honest and detailed insight into the freelancing world and prepare you to start a challenging but rewarding profession.
Emerging Freelancers is comprised of three stand-alone workshops. Each workshop contains personal insights and anecdotes from early-career freelancers; interactive activities; and, most importantly, practical advice. You can attend just one workshop or you can attend all three!
Building a Network
Building a Network
A good freelance career depends on a good network. You have probably heard that contacts get your everywhere and they do! The good news is that the world of networking is not impossible to navigate and there are lots of ways to get started.
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Different ways to build a network and effectively manage it
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The importance of social media and self-promotion
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Combating imposter syndrome
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When volunteering is a good idea (and when it isn’t!)
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Recognising exploitation
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Establishing a company
Finances and Funding
Finances and Funding
Your work and time has value. In this workshop we will be looking at how much a freelancer charges (a topic a lot of people shy away from) and different ways to make money.
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Realistically looking at how to support yourself financially
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Back-ups and contingencies
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Assessing the value of your time and work
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Looking at different sources of funding and how to apply for them
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Pitching your work
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Accepting and seeking help and advice
The Pros and Cons of Freelancing
The Pros and Cons of Freelancing
Being aware of the pros and cons of freelancing, and figuring out how to manage them, will help you start your career with the right mindsight. Some of these sound obvious, but exploring them properly and embracing the challenging aspects of freelancing is what will allow you to excel.
Pros:
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Flexibility
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Doing what you love
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Creative license
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Being your own boss
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Exciting and nomadic lifestyle
Cons:
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Being your own boss
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Instability
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Rejection
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Self-administration
Please feel free to get in touch with us at windsweptworkshopscic@gmail.com if you would like to hire us to run any of the above workshops.