In conjunction with Trinity St Davids University in Carmarthen and S4C , I ran a project with a group of extremely talented students to build this 10-foot tall Merlin puppet for the 2023 Eisteddfod Urdd . Using the project to teach an intro to puppetry for the theatre design course.
The project aimed to signify modern local artists’ connection to their ancient local folk stories. Merlin led a performance on the day, featuring 10 different Welsh folk stories read from his famous book of spells and stories. Bringing to life Welsh legends at the Urdd Eisteddfod!
It’s so wonderful to have Adwaith featured in this amazing video, too. The song was made as another community project funded by Merchedmiwsig. The band ran a series of workshops with students to make this beautiful song for the event.
I feel so blessed to have been offered the roll and to have been part of this breathtaking community event with so many talented people!
My highlight of this whole project was working with the students and seeing how proud they were with our creation, and sharing that excitement with them. We had so much fun making him and then bringing him to life in my movement and puppeteering master class at the end of the project.
Merlin in the making
I designed Merlin then built the skeleton from a mixture of copper and pvc pipping. Once I prepared the base of the head, hands, staff and book, I brought them to the university to begin a series of workshops. Starting with paper and card sculpting workshops, then scenic painting and finishing, then once we put him all together with a series of construction lessons I taught a puppeteering and movement masterclass to help bring him to life.
