Tonight’s the big night! Two mainstage puppet shows at the 2018 Bundaberg Pageant of Lights! We’re performing a short preview puppet show at 6:45pm just before the big street parade. Then we’re performing a full length Christmas puppet show at 7:45pm after the parade!
We always love visiting Bundaberg. This will be our second year of performances at the Pageant of Lights. It’s a great pleasure to be able to entertain this wonderful community.
Category: Special Events
Larrikin Puppets perform at QPAC for My Fair Lady Cast and Company
Larrikin Puppets had the great honour and privilege of being chosen as corporate entertainment for the cast and company of My Fair Lady (Opera Australia), directed by Dame Julie Andrews. Our puppet show was held on the rooftop terrace at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) on Wednesday, 26 April 2017. Among the very special members of our audience were Charles Edwards (Downton Abbey), Anna O’Byrne, Reg Livermore, Robyn Nevin, Mark Vincent, Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Deidre Rubenstein, Josh Gates, Joel Parnis and Don Winsor.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTVu-rpFgE7/
The mastermind behind booking Larrikin Puppets to entertain the show’s cast and company was cast member Don Winsor, who thought an adult level puppet show would be a fun surprise for everybody during their farewell BBQ between shows on the production’s final week in Brisbane.
The premise of this specially tailored puppet show had the puppets auditioning for a puppet version of My Fair Lady, with Frizzby serving as host, and Troggg auditioning for the role of Eliza Doolittle (arguing with Flossy about the difference between the Cockney flower girl and animal whisperer Doctor Doolittle). The most memorable moment for the cast was the performance by Freerange the Chicken who they described as “random chicken”.
After the puppet show, Elissa and I wandered around with Troggg and Flossy to meet the various cast and company members and pose for photos and selfies with them. It was an unforgettable afternoon enjoyed by all.
Said Mr. Don Winsor in an email later that night, “GREAT job today. It was just what the doctor ordered and the company can’t stop laughing… particularly about the chicken, for no reason I can point to. Thanks for doing a bang up job!”
Big thanks to My Fair Lady Australia for choosing us, and chookas for the rest of the tour!
Brett Hansen
Woodford Folk Festival 2016/17
It has been a great honour and privilege to be a part of the “De Ja Voodoo” sideshow family for a week at Woodford Folk Festival.
Run by headline performers Zoe Ellis (Zoe L’Amore of Electric Dollhouse) and Chayne Hultgren (The Space Cowboy), Larrikin Puppets shared the stage in the ‘Deja Voodoo’ sideshow dome every day with Ruben de Waal (Dr. Rube’s Flea Circus) and Shep Huntly (Dr. Hubble’s Big Bubble Show) at the children’s events.
Elissa and I performed three puppet shows a day, every day at the festival.
This has been a truly amazing and memorable experience. Woodford Folk Festival is one of Australia’s biggest festivals, and we feel very blessed to have been invited to be a part of it – Brett Hansen.
If you run a festival and would like us to perform, contact us here to discuss.
Puppet Show details –
Suitable for the whole family, this puppet show is 30 minutes of songs, games, jokes, skits and comical interaction with the audience, followed by an additional 5 minute demonstration on how the puppets work, and a 10 minute meet and greet, where the kids have an opportunity to have their photo taken with Troggg, our friendly blue monster star.
Total duration: 45 minutes.
Additional inclusions for the cost:
– Time allowance for travel to and from the event, set-up and pack-down of the puppet stage, props, puppets and sound equipment.
– Rehearsal time prior to the event.
PLEASE NOTE: Events that require us to travel long distances (ie. flights from Brisbane or drives longer than three hours from Brisbane) will incur additional costs such as flights, excess baggage, fuel and accomodation for two. If your budget allows for this, please contact us to make arrangements.
You can find out more about our festival performances under the “Fetes and Festivals” section of this website. We’d be more than happy to discuss options. Troggg and his furry friends love performing at festivals!
Not 4 Kidz at Brisbane Comedy Festival 2016
Brett Hansen is providing puppetry consultancy for this Brisbane Comedy Festival show at the Brisbane Powerhouse in March. Details below.
ImproMafia presents: Not 4 Kidz at Brisbane Comedy Festival 2016.
FOUR SHOWS OVER THREE WEEKS
Grab your cereal and settle in for a completely improvised parody of your favourite childhood shows.
Return to the glory days of children’s television! Brisbane comedy favourites ImproMafia are stepping back in time to present an improvised homage to the shows that made your childhood great.
Join a perky host and a puppet just aggressive enough to avoid copyright infringement, then save the planet with an animated eco-warrior, deal with Canadian high school dramas or go ‘round the bend with the supernatural. Made up on the spot from your suggestions, it’s all up to the audience how these cheeky parodies play out.
(Sorry, kids – this one’s for the grownups!)
5.30pm Saturdays 5 – 19 March
8.30pm Thursday 17 March
Rooftop Terrace, Brisbane Powerhouse
Tickets $23*/16*
Bookings essential – click link above!
Photo by Images by Anderson.
*An additional fee applies to each booking transaction. Single tickets $3/multiple tickets $6.
Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/552700871561884/
MC Troggg introduces I Am Big Bird (Brisbane’s only screening)
On Monday 14th of September 2015, Larrikin Puppets (via Tugg and Vendetta Films) presented Brisbane’s only screening of award winning documentary “I Am Big Bird – The Caroll Spinney Story” at Event Cinemas, Myer Centre. About 140 people attended, which was a really great turnout!
Other cities in Australia got a general release of this film, but Brisbane missed out for some reason! So Brett Hansen created a petition to get the film into Brisbane cinemas. Eventually, the distribution company Vendetta Films stepped up and decided to help by sending the film to Tugg – an organisation who can get rare and independent films onto the big screen wherever you are in the world. Their partnership in Brisbane is Event Cinemas. So with thanks to Vendetta Films, Tugg and the wonderful Lauren, Tim and the team at Event Cinemas Myer Centre, we had our screening – hosted by Troggg.
The serious side of the event was to do with ovarian cancer. Brett Hansen lost his Mum Helen to ovarian cancer in 2010. His brothers Todd and Dale have done many things over the years to raise money for research and awareness – fun runs, stair climbs, beach volleyball. Brett wanted to run an event where he could use HIS skills, which include hiding behind things and putting his hand inside things. Finally, an opportunity came up where he could present a movie about another guy who likes to hide behind things and put his hand inside things… Or in the case of Big Bird – both at the same time! So the evening was dedicated to the memory of Brett’s Mum.
5% of ticket sales and all money raised from the raffle tickets was donated to the QLD Centre for Gynaecological Cancer Research, who are very busy trying to find early detection methods for ovarian cancer. There is no way of knowing or checking if you have it until it’s too late. A big thank you to QCGC Research for getting on board with this special evening.
I Am Big Bird – The Caroll Spinney Story chronicles the life of puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who is in his 80s and still working at Sesame Street today! From a bullied child to working with Jim Henson and performing two of the world’s most loveable and iconic characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
It was a very heartwarming film with a lot of unbelievable events that made the whole room fill with gasps. It was also very funny. All who attended were very thankful to have witnessed such a thought provoking film.
Please enjoy these photos of the event – from the raffle ticket table in the foyer to Troggg’s introduction of the film.
I Am Big Bird: Brisbane’s only Screening!
I Am Big Bird Comes to Brisbane for One Night Only to help with Ovarian Cancer Research and Awareness
Larrikin Puppets presents Brisbane’s only screening of the award winning, “I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story”. This heartwarming film chronicles the life of Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who has performed Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since 1969.Where: Event Cinemas Myer Centre – Level 3 Myer Centre, 91 Elizabeth St, Brisbane.
When: 7pm, Monday 14 September 2015.
Tickets: $20. Only online at https://www.tugg.com/events/40270 . There are currently 71 tickets remaining, and less than two weeks to secure those seats!
Funds being raised for ovarian cancer research and awareness through a raffle prize and 5% of ticket sales. The event is held in loving memory of Helen Jean Hansen (Brett’s Mum), who lost her very short battle with ovarian cancer in 2010. Chosen charity: QLD Centre for Gynaecological Cancer Research.
MC: Troggg (Brisbane’s own ‘Muppet’). He’s honoured to introduce this film about his heroes Big Bird and Oscar. Troggg’s handler (puppeteer Brett Hansen) is the eldest son of Helen.
For over 4 decades, Caroll’s characters have been cherished by generations of children. At 81 years old, the tenacious and enthusiastic performer has no intention of slowing down. I AM BIG BIRD features incredible footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces Caroll’s journey from bullied child to celebrated performer. This loving portrait peels away the instances that inspired his creation of Big Bird and as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart.
When: 7pm, Monday 14 September 2015.
Tickets: $20. Only online at https://www.tugg.com/
Funds being raised for ovarian cancer research and awareness through a raffle prize and 5% of ticket sales. The event is held in loving memory of Helen Jean Hansen (Brett’s Mum), who lost her very short battle with ovarian cancer in 2010. Chosen charity: QLD Centre for Gynaecological Cancer Research.
MC: Troggg (Brisbane’s own ‘Muppet’). He’s honoured to introduce this film about his heroes Big Bird and Oscar. Troggg’s handler (puppeteer Brett Hansen) is the eldest son of Helen.
For over 4 decades, Caroll’s characters have been cherished by generations of children. At 81 years old, the tenacious and enthusiastic performer has no intention of slowing down. I AM BIG BIRD features incredible footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces Caroll’s journey from bullied child to celebrated performer. This loving portrait peels away the instances that inspired his creation of Big Bird and as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart.
