Factory International

Making THE HERDS: Puppet Building Workshops

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Two people smiling and laughing in a workshop setting for THE HERDS. One is holding a drill.
Date
17 May - 19 Jun 2025
Venue
6 Archway, Temperance St, Manchester M12 6HR
Tickets
FREE, Pre-booking required

Thursday afternoon sessions: 1–4pm

Thursday evening sessions: 6–9pm

Saturday sessions: 10am – 4pm

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Running time: 3 hours

Accessibility features available for this event: Wheelchair Access

Join a series of workshops creating life-sized puppet animals for THE HERDS as part of MIF25

Curious about the magic behind the scenes? Handy with a glue gun? Secretly proud of your flatpack furniture skills?

We’re calling on amateur makers, DIY enthusiasts, tinkerers and crafters from across Greater Manchester to help bring THE HERDS to life. In the lead up to the MIF25 opening event, a new group of life-sized puppet animals – including wildebeest, red deer, wolves and vervet monkeys – will be handmade by a dedicated crew of local makers… and you could be one of them.

Led by a team of master puppet-makers, you’ll learn the intricate craft of building large-scale puppets, meet new people, have fun and contribute directly to a bold, city-wide performance that fuses climate storytelling and public art.

Come and help us build Manchester’s herd and be part of something big together.

THE HERDS is part of Manchester International Festival 2025 – explore the full programme here.

Workshop details

  • Sessions run from 17 May to 19 June at our puppet HQ on Temperance Street, close to Manchester Piccadilly Station.
  • Join a Thursday afternoon, Thursday evening, or Saturday full-day session.
  • Sessions will run for 5 weeks. We encourage participants to commit to at least 3-4 sessions, so you can follow the build process and deepen your skills.
  • Open to ages 16+.
  • All materials provided, plus a contribution towards expenses.
  • Workshops involve a lot of glue and paint so wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little messy!
  • No experience necessary – just enthusiasm, a steady pair of hands, and a love for making things come to life.

THE HERDS

A woman in a cap touches the head of a life-sized giraffe puppet made from cardboard and wood, as part of The Herds. The background shows an urban environment with people watching and a scenic view of trees and mountains.
Coming to MIF25 this summer, THE HERDS is a public art project on a scale never attempted before – a monumental migration of puppet animals on a 20,000km journey from the Congo basin to the Arctic Circle.
Find out more →

Access information

The event takes place at 6 Archway, Temperance St, Manchester M12 6HR. The what3words is torn.towers.origin

The venue is a railway arch on Temperance Street. It is a large open space used for making activities. It has an accessible toilet and some seating. Some refreshments will be provided. The venue may get hot, or cold. Please bring a jumper if it’s chilly!

Making The Herds: Puppet Building Workshops takes place in a railway arch on Temperance Street. The event will be set up as a seated or standing making workshop, where you will help piece together the puppets which will be used in the performance of THE HERDS at MIF25.

The entrance to the site has a gradually sloped concrete ramp, and large metal sliding door shutter. There is an accessible toilet on site. Some free on street parking is possible on Temperance Street on a first come first served basis but is likely to get very busy. 

Accessible toilets are available at Archway 6.

Travel information

Our nearest train station is Piccadilly Station and we’re a short 8 minute walk away.

Enter into your Sat Nav M12 6HR, Temperance St.

There are 3 car parks close by that are £3 for 12 hours. These are located on Baring Street and Buxton Street.

Free bus services stop at all city-centre stations, including Manchester Picadilly. Buses on these free routes are wheelchair accessible. For full details of the free bus routes, please visit the TfGM website.

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