Ash Appadu is a freelance puppet maker specialising in marionette woodcarving, dedicated to preserving and evolving this endangered craft. With a background in children’s theatre and community projects, he creates puppets for both family and adult audiences, exploring themes of transformation, trans identities, and the intersections of British and Mauritian folklore.
In 2024, Ash trained with QEST Scholar Oliver Hymans through the Homo Faber Fellowship (QEST are UK partner), learning traditional marionette carving techniques. With QEST support, Ash will continue this development through advanced training with leading makers, including marionette carving with John Roberts and Puppets in Prague, 3D design with Eva Sbaraini and Byron Kalomamas, bird marionette construction with Sarah Vigars, marionette painting with Lyndie Wright, and carving expression with Peter O’Rourke.
Each of these mentors has redefined the craft in their own way, and this training will equip Ash to make a similar contribution, combining traditional techniques with new forms of storytelling. The resulting body of work will include a set of puppets for a performance inspired by Mauritian folklore.
