Host a whimsical storytelling evening with this simple and creative project

Hedges act as a natural acoustic buffer, creating an intimate outdoor stage. The secret is rear-projection: puppeteers perform behind a taut white bedsheet, casting silhouettes.

You will need: A white bedsheet, bright torch, black card, tape, skewers, blankets and lanterns

Set the stage: Suspend your sheet tightly across a hedge gap, archway or fence posts. Arrange blankets for the audience and add ambience with a few lanterns. Position the light: Place a torch 2–3m behind the sheet at chest height, pointing towards the centre. Craft the cast: Cut puppet shapes from card and tape a skewer to the back. Master the magic: Stand aside to avoid blocking the beam and hold puppets close to the fabric for crisp silhouettes; pull them back to make shadows grow.

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