After spending nine months learning the ancient art of puppetry, students from Aboyne Lodge School are ready to present their colourful show.

Last September Young People’s Puppet Theatre (YPPT) joined forces with the 30 Year Six pupils to create an entire puppet show from scratch.

Based on Russian fairy tales The Stolen Turnips and Baba Yaga, the stories will be told through large puppets operated with strings and crafted with clay.

“It is changing the dynamic of the class hugely for the positive,” says Caitlin Duschenes, who helps run the YPPT projects with her dad and theatre director, Jeremy.

She explains: “It is not academic but there is a huge range of skills they need to learn. It is really nice for them to do something different.”

From making the costumes to operating the lighting and staging, the pupils are involved in every aspect of the show, and Caitlin says the adults only step in if disaster strikes and the puppets get tangled.

Jeremy first collaborated with Aboyne Lodge in 1999 when he worked with pupils to make marionettes and perform a show. Although he returned in 2001 and 2004 – once during Caitlin’s time at the school – he has not run a project there for many years.

This show will be the first by the YPPT, who are in the process of becoming a registered charity and hope to travel the country providing puppet workshops for youngsters.

On Thursday, June 18 the YPPT will host its launch evening at Aboyne Lodge School, to which teachers, head teachers and education consultants are invited. The event starts at 7.30pm and to reserve a ticket email admin@yppt.org.uk

Two Russian Fairy Tales, Maltings Arts Theatre, Level 2, The Maltings, St Albans, Saturday, June 20, 2.30pm and 4pm. Details: 0333 666 3366, maltingsartstheatre.co.uk