Menu
In April 2010, I met James Richardson, director of Angel Heart Theatre, a puppet theatre company who create their own stories and produce and perform original shows, which are quite simply, enchanting. I have witnessed both children and the young at heart be entranced by the puppets, taken in by the ‘anima mundi’ (the spirit in everything).
Puppetry had already fascinated me for several years, so I was delighted to be invited to initially create, two leather costumes for two exquisitively carved wooden bunraku puppets. Several successful costumes, a few large-scale textile animal puppets later, including a two and a half foot dancing polar bear, and a set dressing, and I was hooked, and subsequently part of the Angel Heart crew for 8 years.
Since then I have created many more characters, sets and props for not only Angel Heart Theatre, and Rattlebox Theatre, but also authors and a tribute singer!
I have learned the tricks of the trade, and incorporated magnets, animation wire, flexible jointing, and other techniques, to help the puppets perform and behave in a more realistic or magical way! I love a challenge! The puppets, sets and costumes I have made for Angel Heart Theatre and Rattlebox Theatre, have also lasted for several years of tours, and are still going strong, despite the extreme tricks they do at times!
Working in textiles for puppetry, performance and theatre is a joy for me. To create characters and sets that will capture the audience, and take them into a different world, however briefly, is like magic. I have explored various processes in my theatre sets and puppets, including sculptural hand stitching, free motion embroidery, and in the last 5 years, needle felted wool sculpture.
My work with Angel Heart Theatre was featured in Devon Life September 2012, and December 2010. I am always happy to create commissions for theatre, authors or filmmaking. Please feel free to contact me. Technical trickery, using magnets, props, and recording devices can be included. If you have an idea, let me know!
