If you'd like to know more about Nell's handmade marionettes, or discuss collaborations or commissions, please use the contact form.
The Person Behind the Puppets
Hi, I’m Nell! I started building marionettes in early 2022, drawing on 20+ years of professional theater experience (see my full bio here) both in front of the audience and backstage. At the heart of my work is a desire to see faces light up; people of every age seem to crack a smile at marionettes and that’s the main reason I do this. I’m particularly eager to perform for children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. If you want to see my puppets at your event and are concerned about cost, please know that I can work with all budgets and will consider barters – my puppets would rather come out to play than sit around at home. And if you know of an organization that might be interested in working with me, I’d love to hear about it.
I use recycled materials in every single build (who knew empty yogurt containers make such great torsos?) and am constantly striving to reduce waste in the process. This is a big part of my ethos and I’m always expanding my kit with the goal of using majority recycled materials. I’ve made marionettes from old chopsticks and produce bags; I believe there’s no wrong way to make a marionette, anyone can do it, and it’s great for keeping fodder out of the landfill. One person’s trash can be a puppet-maker’s treasure! One of my biggest inspirations is The Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Los Angeles. Please check out their webpage – they have lots to offer to anyone interested in this art form. I regularly update a YouTube playlist showcasing puppet masters, puppetry styles and related art forms from around the world, if you’d like to dive deeper into this special art form.
I do hope these strange little people on strings bring you joy. They’ve certainly brought a lot of it to me. ~Nell