If your kids love anything prehistoric and are obsessed with the ferocious T-Rex or horned Triceratops, don’t miss Dinosaur World Live. This interactive dinosaur kids show features life-like puppets, all masterfully controlled by expert puppeteers. It’s fun, educational, has a wonderful story and has been impressing audiences since 2019 in both the UK and the US. While the dinosaurs and their friend Miranda are the stars of the show, it’s the puppeteers that really bring the creatures to life. Let’s find out more about the people behind the puppets.

Meet the Dino Puppets

The dinosaur puppets in this incredible dinosaur event were all designed and created by puppet maker, Max Humphries. He has made many wonderful puppets for a variety of shows and is responsible for bringing Titus the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Orlando the Microraptor, Juliet the Segnosaurus, Gertrude the Giraffatitan, Beatrice the Baby Triceratops and more to life. 

What are the Puppets Made of?

This dinosaur adventure live features puppets made mostly from light aluminium metal, with some of the more complex parts being made from a mix of nylon, steel, aluminium and birch wood. On top of the puppet skeletons sits a layer of muscle made from a super-lightweight foam and then the outer layer, which you can see, is made from cloth and fur. 

The most complicated part of the puppet design, according to Max Humphries, was ensuring the puppets remained light and strong. This is because they’re powered by human puppeteers and therefore need to be lightweight and easy to move around. 

Skills of Being a Puppeteer

Being a puppeteer is no easy task. After all, it’s their responsibility to make the fabulous puppets look as realistic as possible, mastering dinosaur movements and mannerisms. Here are some of the skills needed.

Physical fitness 

Puppeteers for Dinosaur World Live need to be fit! After all, they’re required to hold up to 25kg on their shoulders. Rehearsals typically start with a physical warm-up and a run through of each scene unadorned. This sees the puppeteers move around the space without a puppet, while using their hands and legs in the same way they would when handling their puppet. This conserves energy and is followed by a run through with the puppets.

A deep understanding of each puppet 

All of the puppeteers for the show are fully trained to operate all the parts of every puppet. Puppeteers regularly swap parts and have the opportunity to make a different part of the puppet move. That said, many puppeteers tend to have their favourite dinosaur and position. 

Ability to take direction

Often, puppeteers can’t see each other. They must therefore take direction in order to work with one another while inside the puppet. Each puppet has a different way of moving - be it a roar, blink, or move of the head - and this needs to be communicated effectively. 

Dinosaur World Live really is an inspirational and educational show that fires the imagination and teaches children things they might not already know. Book your tickets today and join in the fun.