Mask Making Lab: Inside the Mask
Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetry
Dates: Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19, 2026, 10 am – 5 pm daily (45 min for lunch)
Early bird registration: $525+ GST, ends March 23
Full registration: $600+ GST
Location: Old Trout Puppet Workshop (3640 15A St. SE)
The playfulness of abstraction (Towards New Artistic Expressions)with Carlos García Estévez & Manifesto Poetico
This hands-on mask making laboratory invites participants into a dynamic exploration of abstraction in mask performance, blending visual creation with embodied theatrical expression.
Inside the Mask is both a creative laboratory and a performative search into new potential theatre forms, where abstract form becomes a living, expressive force.
Through guided movement explorations, participants will analyze and embody the principles of motion, using the body as a tool to inform and inspire the construction of their own abstract masks. With simple yet versatile materials—primarily cardboard—they will experiment with the dynamics of form, structure and colour, learning techniques to design and build masks that resonate in dramatic space and evoke strong audience engagement.
By merging movement, design, and performance, Inside the Mask opens a doorway to bold, imaginative storytelling and offers participants a glimpse into the evolving language of tomorrow’s theatre.
To register contact Elaine at elaine@maskandpuppet.com.
Cancellation Policy: There are no refunds on tickets, but a spot can be transferable to another participant if organised by the buyer.
The Laboratory focuses on:
- Understanding abstraction
- Creating 3D forms
- Exploring how movement informs visual design
- Discovering potential between performer and object
- Mask construction
- Study of the inner mask
- Improvisation
- Movement technique
Daily sessions will combine the constructive aspects of mask-making with movement techniques and explorations that serve as a source of creation.
More info on Manifesto Poetico and maskandpuppet.com.
