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WHAT WE DO

Puppet Services, Built Around Your Project

Flexible puppet solutions for screen, stage, events and experiences.
Tell us your idea & we'll help bring it to life.

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Puppet Building

There’s nothing better than being trusted with an idea for a character and bringing it to life. Show of Hands creates custom puppets, along with made-to-measure costumes and props that help give each character its own personality. Have a look through the gallery to see some of the puppets made in the workshop over the years.

A 40% deposit gets the build underway, with the remaining balance only due once you’re happy with the finished puppet. Delivery is included in the initial quote, and you’ll receive regular photo, video or Zoom updates at each key stage. Got a character in mind? Get in touch to discuss ideas, timescales and a quote.

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Puppeteer For Hire

You may already have puppets or a fresh delivery from Show of Hands. Either way, a puppeteer can bring a whole new level of animation potential to your show. Joe has over 15 years of experience as a puppeteer in various disciplines but specialises mainly in hand and rod/glove puppetry for Television, Film and Theatre. See CV for credits.

Reach out using the contact page to discuss puppetry shooting fees and day rates.

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Puppet Wrangler

Often overlooked on a puppet production shoot is the need for a Puppet Wrangler. Their job boils down to overseeing the welfare of the puppets. This means making them screen ready for every shot, ensuring props and costumes are always rigged and ready when the camera is ready to roll, quick fixes on the fly, being sure any additional items like spare arm rods are never too far away and importantly to ensure the puppets longevity on those long shoots.

This is something we can supply alongside your custom-built puppets. Or just as a stand-alone service. Get in contact via the contact age for wrangling rates and more information.

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Puppets Built to Hire

We received messages from all sorts of projects of different scales. Not every project in its earliest form has a budget that allows custom puppets to be created. In this circumstance, Show of Hands offers a range of “Puppets for Hire”. This makes professional grade puppets more accessible for shooting pilots, fringe productions, or anything you don’t essentially need to keep the character once the curtain comes down or they call “That’s a Wrap!”.

Check out the range on offer (more to be added soon) and get in contact with information regarding which puppet you wish to hire, for how long and where you are based for more information.

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Dodge's Pup School

I was very fortunate to be enrolled onto the second series of the award winning CBeebies show Dodges Pup School as part of its trainee scheme.

As my first experience of a professional television puppet show set, this experience was life altering as it gave me the drive to want to continue pursuing a career in screen puppetry.

I would be tasked with roles that included doubling for some of the principal performers second characters, assisting in the form of right handing both live arms and rodded arm characters and providing lots of the background business with the smaller character like Butterflies, Bugs and Beetles and most notably the adorable Chihuahuas coming up with lots of ideas to pepper the back ground with subtle comedic moments.

Sooty

I have been very fortunate to work for beloved children’s character Sooty on various projects.

Most notably was his 75th anniversary tour in 2023/24. We travelled to over 50 theatres.

Puppeteering such an iconic character from people’s memory was a joy to be handed the responsibility of.

Snow White

As part of the 2023 Wolverhampton Pantomime Snow White, I was commissioned to make 7 puppets collectively known as The Peaky Miners.

I worked closely with the fantastic team producing the show in house and most notably designer David Shields to create 7 unique and engaging character types who were performed by the multitalented ensemble.

They went down a treat, and I have continued building characters for the yearly Pantomime in following years!

Glastonbury

I have been performing all sorts of shows puppet shows in the Glastonbury Festival “Kids Field”.

It started with a Punch and Judy show. I have since developed a Unique Circus Marionette Cabaret act which after trialling out at Glastonbury, I have toured to many events and festivals in Essex and Greater Anglia.