Light Reflection & Refraction puppetry

This puppet was created as an exploration of how light and puppetry can interact to alter the perceived appearance of a puppet.

It was made as part of a '“puppetry takeover” of Cardiff’s Science Discovery Centre Techniquest. One of many puppetry pop ups in the centre designed to engage children in curiosity led learning, with art and science in collaboration.

The puppet sits behind a screen with a side of blue gel and a side of red gel. As he is viewed through each side the corresponding colour vanishes. The puppet has a lively, excitable character and interacts with the audience through showing them a series of objects and drawings, inviting children to make their own.

Design Process

Making Process

Clay head sculpt
Warbla head sculpt
Pipe joints and repurposed swimming float foam body
Priming the body
Drawing the bone and organ systems

Drawings made by children. A table of paper with red and blue pencils was left at the side of the puppet.

These were created entirely unprompted to allow the children to lead with their own curiosity and explore how they may interact with a puppet in a less traditional theatre context.