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Welcome to The Regenerators.

Created in partnership with .

Plays are a brilliant way to explore issues like waste, pollution and climate change, through characters and stories.

We can even use the objects and items we waste to create theatre.

Our workshop will teach you how to create your own upcycled puppet character to star in your plays.

Hello! We are Natalie and Arthur and we created The Tree of Objects, a theatre and music show using unwanted objects and recycled materials.

Natalie and Arthur thought a lot about climate change and how our environment is in danger. They wanted to find a way to help.

They created a performance which showed that the smallest action can make a difference. They wanted to reduce waste.

Natalie and Arthur decided to reuse and repurpose waste to create their show. This meant the play's themes would be visible on stage.

They worked with their set designer and friend Mona to create a big tree with all sorts of clothes, items and unwanted objects hanging off it.

They collected waste and unused objects at home to build puppets and musical instruments. They found more waste to use from the streets but they still needed more. So they asked neighbours and finally… the tip!

The tree featured in the play was made of wood. The reused items were then placed on it. This is called dressing the set.

Stories are often told through the interactions between characters.

The two characters in The Tree of Objects are called X and Y. They come together despite being opposites in culture and personalities.

This is important for the theme of the play – by working together, we can make a better world.

Click on the pictures below to find out more about X and Y.

Meet X

Meet Y

Now it's time to create your own character!

In the activity below, Natalie will teach you how to make a puppet by reusing old waste materials.

Follow along at your own speed. By the end you will have a fully formed character who can star in your own productions.

Upcycled puppet checklist

Use this helpful checklist from Nat and Arthur to make sure you have the types of items you need to make your upcycled puppet character.

Now it's time to make your puppet character move and speak, and to give them an identity.

Follow along with Natalie as she teaches you all you need to know.

You may have a good idea in your head of what your character is like, but it can still be helpful to write down the details.

It will help you to remember in future or to share your ideas with friends and family. It's another part of making your character feel real to you.

You can download and print our passport template with space for you to describe your character. Or you can copy it down onto paper.

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