About

About

Aya Nakamura’s passion for puppetry developed while she was studying theatre design in London. Since then, she has furthered her studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and the Institut International de la Marionnette (France) under the acclaimed German puppeteer, Ilka Schönbein.

Aya is particularly interested in exploring the deep dialogue that can be shared between a puppet and its puppeteer, weaving this relationship into the story. She often employs human-sized puppets that share a similar face with their puppeteer.

Aya is the Leading Artist of Rouge28 Theatre, where she created both the award-winning Urashima Taro and Kwaidan alongside the Artistic Director, Paul Piris. She was awarded Best Puppeteer at the International Puppet and Animation Festival for Adults in Warsaw in 2017.

Aya is very interested in exploring the deep dialogue that can be shared between a puppet and its puppeteer

Aya has performed and puppeteered with many other companies and has been commissioned to build puppets for various productions.

Workshop leading is another area of her interest, where she conducts workshops in drama, puppet making, and puppeteering for participants ranging from children to adults, including those with varying abilities.

Aya is originally from Japan, having spent her teenage years in Singapore before arriving in London in 2000. She has been happily based here ever since.


2024Coldplay World Tour – The Weirdos
Music of the Sphere World Tour – Rome, Düsseldorf & Helsinki
Technique: Lip-Synch Puppet
2022 – 24Famous Puppet Death Scenes (The Old Trout Puppet Workshop)
Calgary (Canada), Avignon (France), Edinburgh, London, Singapore, Prato (Italy) and French National Tour
Directors: Peter Balkwill, Pityu Kenderes & Judd Palmer
Technique: Table-Top Puppet, Rod Puppet, Object Manipulation
2023Knuckles (Paramount Pictures / Sega Sammy Holdings)
TV series (2024)
Techniques: Large Rod Puppet
2023TSB Tiny Elephant for Channel 4
Director: Grant Gilbert. DBLG
Puppet Coordinator : Rob Tygner
Technique: Rod Puppet, Green Screen
2022Snow (Tiny Light)
National Tour and Artsdepot (London)
Director: Nicola Sangster
Technique: Rod Puppet, Object Manipulation
2022An Improbable Musical (Improbable)
Royal and Derngate.
Director: Lee Simpson.
Technique: Improvisation, Singing, Table-Top Puppet, Object Manipulation
Role: Puppet Designer, Puppet Director and Performer/Puppeteer
2022Sweet Porridge (Tiny Light)
Little Angle Theatre.
Director: Anna Tolputt.
Technique: Rod Puppet.
2021The Gift (Touched Theatre)
Z-arts, Manchester.
Director: Darren East.
Technique: Table-Top Puppet.
2021There’s a Rang-Tan in my Bedroom & Other Stories (Little Angle Theatre)
Little Angel Theatre.
Director: Maia Kirkman-Richards.
Technique: Table-Top Puppet and Shadow Puppet.
2021Something Love – Cubbious (Oily Cart)
Online Film.
Lead Artist: Ellie Griffiths
Technique: Object Manipulation.
2021Twirlywoos Live! (MEI Theatrical)
UK National Tour and Leicester Square Theatre (West End).
Director: Roman Stefanski.
Technique: Table-Top Puppet.
2020The Gift (Touched Theatre)
Due to open at Z-Arts in Christmas 2021
Director: Darren East
Techinique: Table-Top Puppet.
2020The Spider’s Thread (Rouge28 Theatre/Aya Nakamura)
Short Paper Theatre Film.
Director: Aya Nakamura
Techinique: Paper Puppet (also known as Toy Theatre / Paper Theatre).

2020
Talking Rubbish (Theatre-Rites)
Online Show.
Director: Sue Buckmaster
Techinique: Object Manipulation, Direct Manipulated Puppet.
2020Digital Flight Paths (Extant)
Online Digital Experience.
Director: Maria Oshodi
Techinique: Voice over.
2020Jamboree: The Sensory Sessions (Oily Cart)
Online Activity Film.
Lead Artist: Ellie Griffiths
Technique: Shadow Puppet, Performing.
2019-20All Wrapped Up (Oily Cart)
UK National Tour.
Director: Ellie Griffiths
Techinique: Object Manipulation, Shadow Puppet, Direct Manipulated Puppet.
2019Twirlywoos Live! (MEI Theatrical)
UK National Tour.
Director: Roman Stefanski.
Technique: Table-Top Puppet.
2018The Frog and Princess (Norwich Puppet Theatre / Rene Baker)
UK National Tour,
Director: Rene Baker
Technique: Table-Top Puppet, Physical Theatre, Puppet with Speech
Urashima Taro (Rouge28 Theatre), Flipside Festival, Singapore
Director: Paul Piris
Technique: Life-sized Puppet, Pupp-Acting, Singing, Paper Theatre, Shadow Puppet
2017-18Sarah and Duck’s Big Top Birthday (Polka Theatre/MEI Theatrical)
UK National Tour and Edinburgh Fringe Festival      
Director: Roman Stefanski
Technique: Table-Top Puppet, Rod Puppet, Singing, Manipulation with recorded voice
2017The Depraved Appetite of Tarrare The Freak (Wattle and Daub Figure Theatre)
Tobacco Factory, Bristol and Wilton Music Hall, London.
Director: Sita Calvert-Ennals.
Technique: Lip Synch Puppet, Operatic Singing, Rod Puppet.
Kwaidan (Rouge28 Theatre)
UK and European Tour (Denmark, Poland and Greece).
Director: Paul Piris.
Technique: Life-sized Puppet, Pupp-Acting, Humanette.
2017R& D: The Dong with a Luminous Nose (Peter O’Rourke)
Devising, testing the puppets and ideas
Director: Peter O’Rourke
Technique: Rod Puppet, Multi-puppeteer Manipulation, Object Manipulation
2016Hansel and Gretel (Horse+Bamboo Theatre)
The Citadel, St Helens and Norwich Puppet Theatre.
Director: Alison Duddle.
Technique: Table Top Puppet, Paper Theatre, Storytelling.
Newzoids Series Two (ITV, Citrus TV and Factory)
Director: George Kane and Dominic Brigstocke.
Technique: TV Puppetry, Rod Puppet, Manipulation with Recoded Voice, Green Screen.
Daedala (Oliver Hymans)
Director: Oliver Hymans
Technique: Object Manipulation
Meadow (Handbendi Brúðuleikhús, Formerly know as Old Saw)
Hvammstangi Community Theatre, Iceland and UK National Tour
Director: Greta Clough
Technique: Rod Puppet, Object Manipulation
Duvet Day (Handbendi Brúðuleikhús, Formerly know as Old Saw)
UK and Scotland National Tour.
Director: Greta Clough.
Technique: Puppet show for babies and toddlers, Object Manipulation.
2014-16Kwaidan (Rouge28 Theatre), Manipulate Festival, UK National Tour,
Director: Paul Piris
Technique: Life-sized Puppet, Pupp-Acting, Humanette
2014-15The Depraved Appetite of Tarrare The Freak
(Wattle and Daub Figure Theatre), Bristol Puppet Festival.
Director: Sita Calvert-Ennals.
Technique: Lip Synch Puppet, Operatic Singing, Rod Puppet.
2015Urashima Taro (Rouge28 Theatre), Athens, Greece
Director: Paul Piris
Technique: Life-sized Puppet, Pupp-Acting, Singing, Paper Theatre, Shadow Puppet
2014-15Hansel and Gretel (Horse+Bamboo Theatre), UK National Tour
The Citadel, St Helens and Norwich Puppet Theatre
Director: Alison Duddle
Technique: Table-Top Puppet, Mask
2014The Frog and Princess (Norwich Puppet Theatre / Rene Baker)
UK National Tour.
Director: Rene Baker.
Technique: Table-Top Puppet, Physical Theatre, Puppet with Speech.
2012-14Charlie and Lola Extremely New Play (Polka Theatre/Watershed Production)
UK National Tour and Polka Theatre.
Director: Roman Stefanski.
Technique: 2D Table-Top Puppet, Manipulation with recoded voice.
2013Urashima Taro (Rouge28 Theatre)
Polish National Tour.
Director: Paul Piris.
Technique: Life-sized Puppet, Pupp-Acting, Singing, Paper Theatre, Shadow Puppet.
Mademoiselle Lychee (Rouge28 Theatre/Aya Nakamura)
Le Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes (France).
Creator: Aya Nakamura.
Technique: Humanette Peep Show.
2011-13The Nightingale (Horse+ Bamboo Theatre)
UK National Tour.
Director: Alison Duddle.
Technique: Table-Top Puppet, Rod Puppet, Mask, Glove Puppet, Physical Theatre.
2012Argos Alien Commercial
Technique: Rod Puppet, Green Screen.
R&D: The Depraved Appetite of Tarrare The Freak (Wattle and Daub Figure Theatre)
Director: Laura Purcell-Gate.
Technique: Lip Synch Puppet.
2011-12Imaginary Friends (Whalley Range All Stars)
National UK Tour.
Director: Edward Taylor.
Technique: Street Theatre, Life-size Puppet, Improvisation.
2011R&D: The Wild Sawn (Young Vic)
Young Vic.
Director: Sasha Wares.
Technique: Rod Puppet.
Return As Faulty
Independent short film.
Director: L. Lefteriou.
Technique: Glove Puppet.
R&D: Mischief (Theatre Rites)
Director: Sue Buckmaster
Technique: Object Manipulation, Rod Puppet
2009-11Urashima Taro (Rouge28 Theatre)
Le Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes (France), Decibel ACE Showcase Festival, UK National Tour.
Director: Paul Piris.
Technique: Life-sized Puppet, Pupp-Acting, Singing, Paper Theatre, Shadow Puppet.
2010Charlie and Lola Best Bestest Play (Polka Theatre / Watershed Production)
Polka Theatre, UK National Tour and Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Director: Roman Stefanski.
Technique: 2D Table-Top Puppet, Manipulation with recoded voice.
2008Urban Dreams (London Bubble)
London Park Tour.
Director: Jonathan Petherbridge.
Technique: Outdoor Theatre, Community Theatre, Mask, Chorus Work.
The Twin Stars (Unicorn Theatre)
Unicorn Theatre.
Director: Tony Graham.
Technique: Table-Top Puppet, Object Manipulation.
2007Double Negative (Chopped Logic)
Camden People’s Theatre.
Director: Cassie Werber.
Technique: Road Puppet, Physical Theatre.
Press The Red Button (Doo Cot)
Green Room, Manchester.
Director: Rachael Field.
Technique: Object Manipulation.
2006-07Fold Your Own (Doo Cot)
National UK Tour.
Director: Rachael Field.
Technique: Object Manipulation, Singing, Physical Theatre.
2006Furies (DoppelGäng)
Barons’s Court Theatre, Puppet School Festival, Poland.
Director: Paul Piris.
Technique: Table-Top Puppet, Chorus Work.
Today’s Special (Malted Milk)
Director: Jing Wong.
Technique: Object Manipulation, Storytelling.
Bush and Dog (Allez! Theatre)
Director: Paul Piris.
Technique: Rod Puppet, Street Show.

Performance History

Training History

2023Folding Toy Theater
Led by Galia Levy-grad
2023ARTIST LED LABS: THE JAPANESE NOH WORKSHOP
Led by Noboru Sano, The Place
2021 & 19Master Class: Mask Performing
Led by Vamos Theatre (Rachael Savage), Jacksons Lane
2020Master Class: Zen in the Art of Puppetry
Led by Bernd Ogrodnik, Hvammstangi International Puppet Festival (Iceland)
2018 Master Class: Papier Théâtre Workshop
Led by Alain Lecucq, Institut International de la Marionnette (France)
2016 & 14Chorus Work and Movement
Led by Clod Emsenble
2014The Power of Puppets
Led by Stuffed Puppet/Neville Tranter, Norwich Puppet Theatre
2011 & 10Butoh Workshop
Led by Masaki Iwana, La Maison du Butoh Blanc(France)
2009Object Manipulation Workshop
Led by Phillipe Genty Company
2008Physical Theatre Training
Arts Educational Schools London
2007Making a Solo Puppet
Led by Ilka Schöbein, Institut International de la Marionnette (France)
2007Master Class: Applying Lecoq Methods To Puppetry
Led by Tabola Rassa (Spain)
2007Master Class: Writing for Puppetry
Led by Ronnie Burkett
2006The Logic of Movement
Led by Stephen Mottram
2005 & 06Bunraku Puppet
Led by Nori Sawa, Buxton Puppet Festival
2005-06MA Advanced Theatre Practice
Central School of Speech and Drama
2001-04BA(Hons) Theatre Design
Wimbledon School of Art