A walkabout puppet is controlled by one or more puppeteers and appears to be walking or moving by itself. In some instances, the puppeteers will be visible; in other cases, they may be hidden from view to create the illusion that the puppet is operating independently. Whichever variety of walkabout puppet you choose, you can be sure to delight and entertain your audience.
Walkabout puppets are engaging and perfect for interacting with a crowd. They can be used on stage in a wide variety of productions as a means of promoting a brand, product, or event, or even in schools and classrooms to engage children and support learning.
Famous Walkabout Puppets
There are numerous fantastic examples of Walkabout Puppets from the stage and screen. They have been used in Musicals, Theatre Productions and Comedy for many years. Below we’ve highlighted some of our favourite Walkabout Puppets;
War Horse – Joey and Topthorn
Made from a cane frame with fabric stretched over the top, each life-sized horse puppet is operated by three puppeteers. A series of levers controlled the movement of the head, ears and legs to give the puppets lifelike movements. Each puppet weighed 66lbs, and the constant movement and carrying of the weight put a huge strain on the puppeteers. These puppets are an example of the puppeteers being clearly visible to the audience.
The Lion King Musical – Various Characters
Those of you that have been lucky enough to see The Lion King – The Musical will know that puppets of all shapes and sizes play a big part in the production. In total there are 232 puppets in the show which are a mix of rod, shadow and walkabout puppets. The producers of all these creations certainly had there work cut spending over 37,000 hours on the project.
The Giant Royal De Luxe Street Puppets
On an altogether larger scale is the Royal De Luxe Giant Street Puppets. This French street theatre company have been delighting audiences around the world with their giant puppet creations. The largest of the giants stands at nearly 50 feet, and they are operated by a team of puppeteers (also referred to as Lilliputians). The puppeteers use industrial machinery to help move the puppets around. Performances are staged outdoors on the streets of cities watched by thousands.
Creating Your Own Walkabout Puppets
At Promotional Props and Costumes, we specialise in bringing your ideas to life. No matter how large, outlandish or unusual those ideas may be. Over the years we’ve created Walkabout Puppets for numerous stage and theatre shows and helped big brands engage with their customers through our creations.
If you’re looking for a Walkabout Puppet, then please get in touch. Our professional puppet makers can help you with all aspects of your puppet from initial ideas to those all-important final details.
Liz Johnson is the owner and lead designer of Promotional Props and Costumes, a Nottingham-based company specialising in creating bespoke props and costumes for marketing, advertising, and promotions. With a particular flair for puppetry and walkabout costumes, Liz has been bringing her designs to life since 2000.
Liz studied Theatre Design, Puppetry and Prop Costuming at Nottingham Trent University. After honing her craft at a puppetry company post-graduation, she embarked on her entrepreneurial venture, bringing her unique vision to life.
Today, Promotional Props and Costumes are at the forefront of creating mascot costumes, puppets, and one-off props for stage, television, and the advertising industry. Liz’s expertise extends beyond her business; she shares her knowledge as a sessional lecturer in Costume Design and Making at Nottingham Trent University, inspiring the next generation of creative professionals.
