Giant puppets bring ‘awe’ and ‘wonder’

More than 100 students, teachers and family members from the Association for Vietnamese Culture Studies in Braybook attended a community puppet workshop, which explored how giant puppets are made.

The event on June 28 was co-presented by Vietnamese Australian Arts and Culture (AVAC) and Snuff Puppets — an arts organisation based in Footscray that specialises in the creation of giant puppets.

Participants had the chance to meet puppeteers and discuss ideas for the forthcoming showcase in October, which will bring Vietnamese stories to life through puppets and celebrate the year of the snake.

President of AVAC, Mai Nguyen, said families reacted to the giant puppets “with a mix of wonder, fascination and awe… and some fear.”

“Most of [the participants] had never been to these workshops before… never seen or touched giant puppets. It captured the whole group’s attention…” she said.

“Everyone was excited and had so much fun.”

A giant snake puppet was also featured as part of the workshop.

“Everyone seemed surprised by the size of the snake… the actual fabric skin was removed, showing all of the skull and bones of the snake too. It was just fascinating!”

To create a giant puppet, artists first consider the puppet’s size, shape and how it will be controlled — such as by hand, by a rod or with strings.

Materials, such as foam, are then chosen to shape the puppet which is then covered by fabric.

Artists may also incorporate mechanisms into a puppet to create extra movements and sound.” – Starweekly