
I’m excited to open a small, immersive workshop this summer at Parici, a creative art centre nestled in a beautiful rural part of the South of France, in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Over four days, you’ll design, build, and perform your own professional Muppet-style puppet ,and leave with a fully finished character and the skills to bring it to life.
This is a hands-on artistic retreat, not a simple craft class. We’ll work in a focused, supportive atmosphere, surrounded by nature and creative energy.
I speak English, Dutch, and French. The workshop will take place mainly in English, but individual assistance can also be provided in French or Dutch.
All materials, food, and camping are included.



Saskia Thijs is a puppeteer, puppet builder and performer trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp (Belgium).
In 1998 she founded the puppet theatre company Pili-Pili and later co-founded Compagnie Miaow, creating visual theatre and puppet performances presented at festivals across Europe and internationally.
For more than 25 years she has designed and built all of her puppets herself, exploring techniques ranging from wood carving and latex moulding to expressive foam sculpting.
She has further developed her skills through workshops with renowned puppeteers such as Bert Plagman, Neville Tranter, and Gavin Glover amongst others.
Alongside her performance work, she regularly shares her knowledge through puppet-making and manipulation workshops for children and adults, encouraging participants to discover their own creative voice through puppetry.
More information about her work and performances can be found at www.compagniemiaow.com.
This workshop is ideal for:
No prior puppet-making experience is required—just curiosity and commitment.
A personalized approach to your character
Before the workshop, you are warmly invited to send me your character idea or sketch.
We will review it together beforehand to explore the best way to bring your design to life as a puppet. This will help us think about structure, expression, and personality—so you arrive with a clear direction for giving your character life.
The goal is not just to make a puppet, but to create a character with presence, voice, and emotional depth.
Practical information
📅 July 9–12 (arriving the 8th)
📍 South of France
👥 Limited to 10 participants
💫 Early Bird Rate: €620 until May 31
💫 Regular Rate: €720
The fee includes the 4-day workshop, all puppet-making materials, vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), as well as 4 nights of camping on site.
An equipped tent with mattress or a caravan can be rented for an additional fee.
Parici offers a peaceful natural environment that fosters the creative process—with wide open landscapes, donkeys on the grounds, walking paths, and a nearby lake for a swim at the end of the day.
Parici - Centre créatif, La Bernière, Montesquieu-Volvestre, France