Robin Puppet

This robin puppet was commissioned by Mount Hood Community College for their 2023 production of The Secret Garden. I met with the director and tech designer on what was needed for the puppet to do onstage, but I was left to my own idea when ut came to the design and look of the puppet.

I started with a cardboard prototype I could bring in as a test. The head is able to bob up and down via a line that runs to the handle of the main rod, and the wings are loose fabric able to move freely. Besides some minor changes in the angles of the rods, this prototype was copied directly to the final piece.

The head is attached with a hinge at the back of the neck, and fabric fills in the rest. Two wires are attached, one at the back of the neck pulls it open and one at the front of the neck pulls in closed again. These lines run through the back of the bird and down to a lever where they are pulled taught and can work in tandem. The lever can be controlled by the thumb while holding the handle.

At this point, the two wing rods are attached at the base.

Using the pattern I made for the prototype, I drew out a wooden spine and hinge for the next version. A helper in the shop cut the pieces for me, and I tested the wing hinges by glueing them on to the prototype first.

Then it was time to start on the real version. I used foam to bulk out the shape of the body and head, leaving a gap down the middle of the spine so the wires could be serviced up until the last minute.

The foam was carved down into shape-

- and covered with fabric and fur

The wings are layered fabric, with more fur glued to the thicker sections.

He got a tail made of the same fabric as the wings, with a little wire in there for stability.

In the first rehersal with the new version, the stick broke under the full weight of the puppet. Fortunately, I was able to run and get a new thicker one, and it was fully dry and ready to rehearse again the next day.

The cast loved him, and named him Petunia.