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Since 2012, Larrikin Puppets has brought vibrant characters and world-class puppetry to audiences across Queensland and beyond. While our heart lies in creating joyful, hands-on experiences for children and families, our work has also taken us into some larger and very respected theatres and entertainment venues. From corporate events to pop-culture conventions, and from TEDx to a performance for Opera Australia at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), our puppets have travelled far and wide, surprising and delighting audiences of all ages.
This curated list highlights just some of the major performances, appearances and collaborations that have shaped our journey. Each event demonstrates not only the versatility of our work – from roving characters in bustling expo halls to full theatre productions and workshops – but also our capacity to deliver high-quality, professional entertainment in prestigious settings alongside some of the most talented artists in the industry.
2013
Tue, 9 July 2013 — Cluck: The Web Series (film work)
Venue: Birdees — 608 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Brett provided on-set puppetry consulting and performance for the short web series Cluck, training the principal puppeteer and stepping in for shoot days as required. The work demonstrated our ability to operate professionally on film sets and in tight-production environments.
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Sun, 6 October 2013 — Brisbane Zombie Walk
Venue: RNA Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane, QLD
Performed a themed puppet show as part of the Brisbane Zombie Walk at the iconic RNA Brisbane Showgrounds (home of the EKKA) — a large public event associated with major fundraiser activity and festival-style programming.
2014
Thu 24 April & Fri 25 April 2014 — The Jim Henson Company: Puppet Up! – Uncensored (attended)
Venue: Brisbane Powerhouse — 119 Lamington St, New Farm, QLD
We attended Puppet Up! and met Jim Henson Company puppeteer Grant Baciocco backstage at Brisbane Powerhouse. That backstage access — and the chance to handle historic Henson puppets — was formative and inspiring for our company.
2015
Sat 18 April & Sun 19 April 2015 — Supanova Pop Culture Expo (Gold Coast)
Venue: Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre — Cnr Gold Coast Hwy & T.E. Peters Dr, Broadbeach, QLD
Co-booked a booth with Edge Comix and roved the expo floor with Troggg and other characters. This appearance included memorable industry moments — Brett met George Takei (from the original cast of Star Trek) and posed in a photo with him, while holding Trekkie Monster from Avenue Q alongside Brisbane Arts Theatre’s Steve Beeston — reinforcing our presence in Australia’s convention circuit.
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Sat 28 November 2015 — Supanova Pop Culture Expo (Brisbane)
Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre — Merivale St & Glenelg St, South Brisbane, QLD
Again co-booked a booth with Edge Comix and roved the expo floor. We engaged directly with cosplayers and fans, handed out information about our work, and used the weekend to showcase how our characters perform in fast, high-energy pop-culture environments.
2016
Sat 5 March – Sat 19 March 2016 — ImproMafia: Not 4 Kidz (Brisbane Comedy Festival) — Puppetry consultant
Venue: Brisbane Powerhouse (Rooftop Terrace), New Farm, QLD
Provided puppetry training and performance supervision for this festival production — a professional theatre consultancy role rather than an on-stage performance.
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Sun 13 November 2016 — Birthday Party Show (venue changed due to weather)
Venue: Brisbane Powerhouse — 119 Lamington St, New Farm, QLD
Originally planned for an outdoor park, the event was moved at the last minute to Brisbane Powerhouse due to wet weather. This classy, last-minute venue change gave us the rare opportunity to set up and perform in one of Brisbane’s leading cultural institutions.
2017
Wed 26 April 2017 — Corporate puppet show for cast & company of My Fair Lady (Opera Australia)
Venue: Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) — South Brisbane, QLD
It was a genuine honour to be invited to perform at QPAC. We delivered a bespoke puppet show tailored with in-jokes and musical-theatre references for Opera Australia’s cast and company of the Dame Julie Andrews-directed touring production of My Fair Lady, hired as a surprise by cast member Don Winsor. The audience included notable performers — Charles Edwards (Downton Abbey), Anna O’Byrne, Reg Livermore, Robyn Nevin, Mark Vincent, Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Deidre Rubenstein, Josh Gates and Don Winsor — making the occasion a high-profile arts industry moment for Larrikin Puppets.
2018
Sat 15 December 2018 — Dance Galatta End of Year Showcase & Christmas Party
Venue: The Princess Theatre — 8 Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD
Performed as part of a South Indian cultural showcase; the finale featured audience and children participation, with a high-energy finale set to the popular number Rowdy Baby that delighted the crowd.
2019
Sat 14 September & Sun 15 September 2019 — Brisbane Festival: Regurgitator’s POGOGO SHOW (intro segments)
Venue: The Tivoli — 52 Costin St, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Performed sock-puppet versions of the Regurgitator band members live on stage as the band’s opening intro, rehearsing and performing alongside the band for festival audiences.
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Wed 4 December 2019 — Corporate Christmas Function (replacement performance)
Venue: Brisbane Entertainment Centre — Boondall, Brisbane, QLD
When the scheduled twin-clowns (Peter and David Bissell — Peebo & Dagwood) were sadly unavailable, Larrikin Puppets was called in to replace them. We delivered a corporate Christmas performance at one of Brisbane’s largest entertainment venues.
2021
Fri 29 October 2021 — Gladstone PopCon (Fun Factory Stage)
Venue: Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre (GECC), Gladstone, QLD
Delivered a staged puppet show and a hands-on puppetry performance workshop on the theatre stage as part of the PopCon program, bringing professional puppetry to a regional pop-culture audience.
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Sat 30 October 2021 — Gutterfire — “Eight” music-video shoot
Venue: The Brightside — 27 Warner St, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Elissa, Brett, (plus additional puppeteers we brought in) performed puppetry for staged rock-concert scenes in the Gutterfire music video “Eight,” directed by Clint Lewis (Red Tape Pictures). Puppets appeared on stage with the band and within the audience, blending live music and puppetry artistry.
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Sat 18 December 2021 — Kids Moves Concert – On The Rise
Venue: Robina Community Centre – Main Auditorium, Robina (Gold Coast), QLD
Troggg and Marina served as MCs and we performed two full puppet shows as part of this large end-of-year concert, demonstrating our ability to host and entertain large family audiences.
2022
Mon 21 March 2022 — World Puppetry Day: A Celebration of Puppetry with Larrikin Puppets
Venue: Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct — 270 Jacaranda Ave, Kingston (Logan), QLD
Performed two outdoor shows ahead of later presenting our theatre production Hijabi Girl: A Musical Puppet Show at the same precinct.
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Wed 29 June 2022 — What A Wonderful World — Musical Puppet Show + Workshop
Venue: SunPAC — Sunnybank Performing Arts & Cultural Centre, 470 McCullough St, Sunnybank, QLD
Presented our What A Wonderful World social science puppet show as well as our Puppetry Performance Workshop as part of a school holiday activation on stage at the beautiful SunPAC theatre.
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Sat 16 July 2022 — Puppet Show Opening Support Act — Regurgitator’s POGOGO SHOW
Venue: The Princess Theatre — 8 Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD
Presented our regular puppet show as the opening support and again performed sock-puppet renditions of the Regurgitator members as part of the show’s intro.
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Tues 23 & Wed 24 August 2022 — Hijabi Girl: A Musical Puppet Show
Venue: Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct — Butterbox Theatre, 270 Jacaranda Ave, Kingston (Logan), QLD
Presented our full-scale musical puppet production in the Butterbox Theatre as part of the precinct’s performing-arts program.
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Sat 26 November 2022 — Special Children’s Christmas Party (Cairns)
Venue: Cairns Convention & Exhibition Centre / Cairns Entertainment Centre, Cairns, QLD
Delivered our Christmas puppet show and run a brief workshop as part of large regional Christmas celebrations.
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Wed 7 December 2022 — Special Children’s Christmas Party (Newcastle)
Venue: Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow, Newcastle, NSW
Performed our Christmas puppet show and ran a brief workshop for families and community sponsors during regional festivities.
2023
Sat 15 April 2023 — Festival Puppet Show + Puppetry Performance Workshop
Venue: ImagiNation Children’s Festival — Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct, Kingston (Logan), QLD
Performed a full puppet show and a performance-style workshop within the Butterbox Theatre as part of this family festival.
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Sat 14 October 2023 — TEDxBrisbane 2023: “The Power of Intention”
Venue: Edmund Rice Performing Arts Centre (ERPAC) — 58 Stephens Rd, South Brisbane, QLD
Elissa presented a TEDx talk alongside Troggg (Brett operating discreetly from behind the puppet theatre). The talk explored the cultural and artistic importance of puppetry, and why puppetry deserves space both inside and outside traditional theatres. The TEDx platform positioned us among thought leaders and arts innovators, amplifying our message to an engaged professional audience.
2024
Sun 4 August 2024 — Source Kids Disability Expo
Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) — Merivale St & Glenelg St, South Brisbane, QLD
Delivered our zany and fast-paced kids comedy puppet show at this national expo focused on disability services, equipment and family engagement; our show played to a large, diverse audience.
2025
Sat 29 March 2025 — Corporate Puppetry Performance Workshop (SUBCON25 Kids Activity Club)
Venue: Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre — Broadbeach, City of Gold Coast, QLD
Delivered our puppetry performance workshop for the Cheeky Monkey Club Kids Club as part of SUBCON25 (the Subway® Australia & New Zealand Convention). This corporate convention engagement demonstrated our ability to service major trade conventions and high-profile corporate events.
