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Jane Leakey

Disciplines

Puppetry and performance, masks, model making, special effects make up, collages, puppet making

Workshops for Ages

5-11, Secondary, 16+, Adults

Workshops Offered

Special effects make up
Model making
Mask making
Puppet making
Funky monkey
Blast off!
On safari

Artist Statement

After gaining a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts and a TEFL certificate I toured the UK with two TIE companies. As a result I founded Fat Cat Theatre Company, which is dedicated to bringing the magic of live theatre to children; as well as providing top quality art workshops.

As well as covering a wide range of subjects I am also open to new ideas and welcome suggestions from schools and venues. For example I am currently designing Roman Centurion glove puppets and Egyptian god finger puppets for a local school.

I also write plays for children and welcome commissions. “No Butts”, my play about smoking and peer pressure, was commissioned by a Somerset school.

Recently, after performing “An Otter’s Tale”, a Grandmother thanked me for enabling her young grandson to participate and to enjoy stroking the animal puppets afterwards. She explained that this was the first time ever that he had felt comfortable enough to join in anything which involved lots of other children.

I have also worked with children with ADHD, autism and some young adults who have been excluded from mainstream school. Time and again the adults which accompany the children express surprise and delight that their charges are able to “sit still” or “concentrate” or engage in an activity which I have provided. Be that a performance or a special effects makeup workshop.

This is where the proof is: when an hour’s performance or workshop can make a small but profound difference to someone’s life. This is what makes it all worthwhile, this is the greatest reward.