MORE “Gloria” Puppet in Progress Pictures!!!

A Star is Born....!!!

A Star is Born….!!!

Hello everyone,

I have been a while posting this next installment of the making of our new “Officer Buckle & Gloria” show for Child Safety Week.  That’s because I wanted to finish “Gloria” before I did another post.

She is finished now, apart from installing controls.  I shall be playing about with that this week.  I want to see what controls will work best for the actions we need her to do.

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CLICK HERE to see previous post, with more details about the show!

OFFICER BUCKLE AND GLORIA ©1995 by Peggy Rathmann.

First published in the United States by G. P. Putnam’s Sons. All rights

reserved. Used with permission

Also coming up this coming Saturday the 1st of June is the High Bentham “CARnival “.  This is a continuation from “My Last CARnival” last year and there will be all sorts of exciting transport themed activities and entertainment for all ages, including a parade and go-cart racing.  I shall be doing my “Jabberwocky” suitcase show in my new medieval costume along Main Street from 11am-1pm and in the Black Bull car park after the procession.  Some of the workshops to make stuff for the CARnival are still running so come along while you can, (CLICK HERE for details).

“Gloria” Puppet in Progress Pictures

I’m delighted to announce that Tim Austin and I have secured permission to create a brand new show based on the Caldecott Medal winning book “Officer Buckle and Gloria” by Peggy Rathmann.

I have been chomping at the bit to get the permission from the publishers so that I could start work on the show, which will premier during Child Safety Week.  It’s a brand new commission from the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board and our very first show adapted from a contemporary book.

Now we have the permission, I have to get cracking at a rapid pace on the central puppet character of “Gloria” the Police dog.  The big challenge is to make Gloria convincing as a normal, realistic dog while allowing her to stand upright and perform very undog-like gestures.

With this in mind, I thought the flexibility of foam rubber was the way to go both for the head and the body.  She will also need to be very light as there is a lot of jumping about involved.

I have seen very good puppet dogs and wolves made by other people that are similar to what I’m aiming for.  However, these have been operated by more than one puppeteer and this one needs to be operated by one puppeteer only.

I have a good idea of where I’m going with it, but it is a developing process.  I am making decisions about how to do things and what materials to use as I’m going along.

I shall be posting more photos of the making process for the show as it develops.

Click HERE for details of the performances

OFFICER BUCKLE AND GLORIA ©1995 by Peggy Rathmann.

First published in the United States by G. P. Putnam’s Sons. All rights

reserved. Used with permission