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Pioneer of Puppet Carving - Build a hand-carved marionette in just a week

Czech Marionettes - Guild Workshop

Individual 7-day course of hand-carving under the guidance of an experienced woodcarver and puppeteer Martin Růžička. Booking a date is necessary, sometimes it is necessary to arrange up to 3 months in advance. See the details below for more information.


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CZK 29 900Change currency
Shipping cost to USA. Change the country of deliveryCZK 900
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Overview
  • Designer: Czech Marionettes - Guild Workshop
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Discover the magic of puppetry and woodcarving

From the actual design through the drawing and realization, we get to the final puppet. During these seven days, a lot of great experiences and new people await you, and at the end of the course, you will take home your own wooden hand-carved puppet.

During the week you will learn the basics of woodcarving, painting, assembling, and controlling a puppet according to your design. The workshop is under the leadership of the artist Martin Růžička, who's been carving marionettes for over 25 years. The workshop takes place in Martin's studio near Prague Castle.

You don't need any tools, everything will be provided for you. Just wear comfortable clothing and bring some good mood along the way:-) The cost is for one person, however the capacity of the workshop is up to 3 people, so it is possible there will be a carving buddy with you.

What is waiting for you?

We start every morning at 9:00 and finish at 18:00. We have a lunch break during the day. 

For the first three days, you will carve the individual parts of which the puppet is composed. The fourth day is intended for finishing the surface and preparing for painting, or the first layer of painting. On the fifth day, you finish the painting and possibly paint the puppet. For the next two days, you will learn how to assemble the puppet and connect it correctly. If you have time, you will also learn tips and tricks on how to play your puppet to the maximum.

If accommodation in Prague is a problem for you, you can be a guest at home with one of the members of our team.

Course program

  • Days 1–3: Carving and shaping the individual parts of the marionette (head, torso, arms, legs).
  • Day 4: Surface finishing and preparation for painting or the first coat of paint.
  • Day 5: Completing the painting and details of the figure.
  • Days 6–7: Assembling the marionette and connecting the parts correctly. You will also learn the basics of marionette manipulation for performance.

Short videos from workshops

Sound of Wood



Marionette done by Alexis



Super Reader Marionette done by Kate



Detailed Schedule:

For the first three days, you will carve the individual parts of which the puppet is composed. The fourth day is intended for finishing the surface and preparing for painting, or the first layer of paint. On the fifth day, you finish the painting and possibly paint the puppet. For the next two days, you will learn how to assemble the puppet and connect it correctly. If there is time left, you will also learn tips and tricks on how to play your puppet to the maximum.

Daily scheduling:

We will start every morning at 9 am and finish at 6 pm. During the day we have a lunch break.

Where is this course?

This workshop takes place in Prague at Martin’s workroom close to Prague Castle.

How long will it take?

It takes 6 days plus 1 day of a half working programm in the middle of the course to relax a bit and to explore the city...

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Short interview with Martin about hand carving...

Petr: So what is so amazing about carving a figurine?

Martin: Hard to describe... I think it is first about feeling the wood itself. Wood has its own aroma, weight, and grain. And then about the response, you get from the wood.

Petr: Response?

Martin: Yes. Once you learn how to hand carve you feel that wood gives you possibilities of where and how deep you can go with a chisel. That’s why no figurine is the same.

Petr: You are talking about that old truth that all sculptors have repeated through the ages,  that there is a shape already hidden inside and the sculptor is just taking it out of the mass. Right?

Martin: I mean it is not magic or something like that. Wood has simply some structure inside which gives you ways of how you can work with it. It's nice to let yourself improvise and change your ideas as they develop in your creation during the process of carving.

Petr: Ok. And what else is so nice about carving for you?

Martin: Besides the smell which I like a lot is the fact that something is forming in your hands. You think about it and it gives you new and fresh impulses to look at it again and again.

Petr: I know what you are talking about. I personally love the sound of wood while carving. Anyway, thank you for the quick interview.

 
 
 
 

Shop reviews


Tanya Kancheva 5. 8. 2026bbbbb

Zlatna Kostova’s review: If you think you've already seen all the magic Prague has to offer, visit Czech Marionettes. It may well become the highlight of your trip. Walking into this beautiful workshop and gallery felt like stepping into another world – a world where every puppet has a personality, a history, and a soul. There are antique marionettes waiting to be lovingly restored, newly carved figures taking shape from blocks of linden wood, theatrical puppets, film puppets, one-of-a-kind collector's pieces, custom commissions, and charming souvenirs. Everywhere you look, you can feel that this is not simply a shop but a living workshop where Czech puppetry continues to flourish. Even before my visit, I knew that Czech puppetry is one of the country's great cultural traditions, recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. After spending time here, I understood why. This is not merely craftsmanship - it is an art form passed down through generations with extraordinary dedication and love. Lucie Robinson, the wonderful manager of Czech Marionettes, welcomed my friend Tanya and me with warmth and genuine enthusiasm. She shared how she herself fell in love with puppetry after making her very first marionette in the workshop of the internationally renowned master Martin Růžička. Through her stories - and through a fascinating video from Růžička's studio - we caught a glimpse of the artistry and passion behind his remarkable creations. Daniel then took us "behind the scenes", showing us sketches, designs, carving tools, unfinished puppets, and restoration projects. As he demonstrated the marionettes, he handled them as if they were living companions rather than wooden figures. His affection for them was impossible to miss and wonderfully contagious. Around us, the workshop was alive with creativity. One artist was carefully repairing the broom of an evil witch, while another was delicately painting the faces of the Princess and her Prince from "The Nutcracker" and refreshing their costumes. Watching these characters slowly come to life was absolutely mesmerizing. Leaving Czech Marionettes was surprisingly difficult. It reminded me of the feeling I had the first time I entered the newly opened "The Moon-lit Room" puppet theatre in Sofia - you simply don't want the enchantment to end. If you are visiting Prague, don't miss this extraordinary place. Whether you are a collector, a theatre lover, an artist, or simply someone who appreciates beautiful craftsmanship, Czech Marionettes offers an unforgettable experience. I already know that every time I return to Prague, this will be one of my first stops.

Tommy Zěitgeist 4. 8. 2026bbbbb

Wow! Loved this puppet shop and studio. The owner was so friendly and kind. She showed me their workshop and lots of stories. � ❤️ …

Jill Arnold 3. 8. 2026bbbbb

I can't say enough about this amazing experience! I was in Prague with my friend (and colleague) studying the art of marionettes as part of a grant for our work as speech and language pathologists. From planning this trip months ago and the wonderful communication with Lucie the shop manager prior to arriving to the day of the workshop was perfect! Everything was easy to plan from afar and all details were clear before we even arrived. After touring the castle area (also worth doing in Prague!) we walked down the beautiful cobblestone street towards the Czech Marionettes Shop. The place next door offered a great lunch spot too! As soon as we stepped foot into this adorable shop, we felt welcomed immediately and we were so excited to begin our workshop with Daniel. Daniel made us feel comfortable and walked us through each step of the process with care and patience as we created our very own, very unique marionettes. He shared the origins of this amazing art, talked about the benefits of puppetry, shared how he became involved in this craft, offered some of the history behind different characters and Czech puppets and provided examples of inspiration for our creative products. We had hands-on experience in the creation, using tools from the full studio to create our marionettes. Daniel encouraged us every step of the way! I can't stop talking about how fun and unique it was to be in this fabulous shop and creating this unique art form with experts in the workshop studio! We loved it so much and anyone at any level or age can enjoy it too! Thank you, Lucie and Daniel, for making our afternoon so memorable and helping us fulfill our wish for our grant about communication.

Alexa Stevens 30. 7. 2026bbbbb

Absolutely gorgeous shop, I loved the range of price points and kinds of marionettes! Truly something for everyone, and I loved the pop culture ones as well. Staff were super lovely and answered all my questions as well as wrapping my purchase very securely in bubble wrap - survived his journey back to Australia! I highly recommend a visit if you’re looking for an authentic art piece and unique souvenir.

Teresa Cabral 29. 7. 2026bbbbb

Everything about my experience here was amazing!! Such a beautiful shop, truly dedicated to the art. All the puppets are handcrafted and the variety is great! I had a few questions about traditional checz puppetry and Lucie was so kind and helpful. I bought an amazing Vondník, but there really is something for everyone.



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Source of the reviews: Marionettes.cz, Google, Etsy



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