The Art of Puppetry Puppeteer Demonstration

Left: Fauna puppet by Erth Visible & Physical Inc for SofT foREST performances, 2025 / Photograph: Leo Infantas / Right: Bear puppet by Dead Puppet Society from Holding Achilles, Brisbane Festival, 2022 / Photograph: Dean Hanson

Left: Fauna puppet by Erth Visible & Physical Inc for SofT foREST performances, 2025 / Photograph: Leo Infantas / Right: Bear puppet by Dead Puppet Society from Holding Achilles, Brisbane Festival, 2022 / Photograph: Dean Hanson / View full image

When

6.00 – 7.15 pm, Sun 21 Mar 2027
View Calendar

Where

Gallery of Modern Art, Cinema A

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Accessible

What to expect

Admission

Tickets on sale Fri 4 Dec | Members pre-sale from Tue 1 Dec

About

Celebrate World Puppetry Day with a live demonstration from Australia's leading innovators in puppetry.

For thousands of years, puppetry has enchanted audiences across cultures as an artform for storytelling, entertainment and connection. Join puppeteers and makers from Erth Visual & Physical Inc. and Dead Puppet Society for an interactive demonstration exploring why it continues to connect with us so deeply and experience a rare glimpse behind the scenes into their unique approaches to the materials, methods and magic of puppetry.

Hosted by Larissa Deak (UNIMA Australia President).

Schedule
From 5.00pm | Foyer bar open with snacks and drinks available to purchase.
Until 6.00pm | Purchase a timed-entry ticket to experience ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ exhibition
6.00–7.15pm | The Art of Puppetry: Puppeteer Demonstration

Exclusive QAGOMA Members pre-sale from 10.00am Tue 1 Dec 2026. General admission tickets on sale from 10.00am Fri 4 Dec 2026. Join now for pre-sale access.

This event is presented in collaboration with World Science Festival Brisbane 2027 and the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art.

Fauna puppet by Erth Visible & Physical Inc for SofT foREST performances, 2025 / Photograph: Leo Infantas

Fauna puppet by Erth Visible & Physical Inc for SofT foREST performances, 2025 / Photograph: Leo Infantas / View full image

Erth Visual & Physical Inc.

Erth is a team of creators, makers and performers pushing the limits of design, content and experience. Erth’s puppetry-based theatrical productions and innovative community projects have challenged and inspired audiences for more than thirty-five years, driven by a special interest in natural history, First Nations stories and urban mythology. With a prime focus on environmental sustainability, conservation and social justice, the company’s core motivation is the creation of emotionally impactful artistic work which, through connecting with audiences young and old, educates, inspires, motivates and empowers people to make an impact in the world through their own actions. Today the company is recognised internationally as an innovator of visual theatre, and a creator of brave, unbridled work for children.

Bear puppet by Dead Puppet Society from Holding Achilles, Brisbane Festival, 2022 / Photograph: Dean Hanson

Bear puppet by Dead Puppet Society from Holding Achilles, Brisbane Festival, 2022 / Photograph: Dean Hanson / View full image

Dead Puppet Society

Dead Puppet Society is an internationally recognised Australian theatre company known for bold, design-led performance that brings stories to life through puppetry, visual theatre and ambitious stagecraft. The company creates large-scale works that combine handmade artistry with contemporary technology, building richly imagined worlds for audiences of all ages. Its acclaimed productions include The Wider Earth, Ishmael, Laser Beak Man, Storm Boy, Holding Achilles and Peter and the Starcatcher.

Larissa Deak / Photograph: Phil Hargreaves / Image Courtesy Larissa Deak

Larissa Deak / Photograph: Phil Hargreaves / Image Courtesy Larissa Deak / View full image

Host: Larissa Deak

Larissa works in public programming at the Museum of Brisbane, where she has researched and written successful public art and history walking tours. She is Program Coordinator for Brisbane’s Annerley Junction Fest, an annual inner city community arts festival. Larissa is a Teaching Artist engaging young people and communities through puppetry, creative play and art. Puppetry for stage includes Sydney Puppet Theatre, Erth, Vulcana Circus, South Korea’s LATT Children’s Theatre, Create Annerley Puppet Parade, Windmill Performing Arts, French company Plasticiens Volants, amongst others. Television puppetry includes animatronic puppetry for Henson’s Farscape, New MacDonald’s Farm, and The Wiggles TV. Film puppetry: Nim’s Island. Online content includes the 10-week creative play program "Little Artists at Home" with Imaginary Theatre and Brisbane Powerhouse during Covid lockdown. Larissa has performed using shadow, string, hand, rod, animatronic and inflatable puppetry and loves the artful cleverness of shadow puppetry best. Larissa is the current President of UNIMA Australia, Australia’s peak puppetry organisation, and UNIMA Australia Councillor representing Australia for UNIMA International.

Production still from Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock 2022–present / © Apple. As seen on Apple TV. All Rights Reserved / Image courtesy: Apple, The Jim Henson Company

Production still from Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock 2022–present / © Apple. As seen on Apple TV. All Rights Reserved / Image courtesy: Apple, The Jim Henson Company / View full image

Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company

12 Sep 2026 – 18 Apr 2027, GOMA

Find out more
GOMA Friday Nights, May 2026 / Photograph: K Bennett, courtesy QAGOMA

GOMA Friday Nights, May 2026 / Photograph: K Bennett, courtesy QAGOMA / View full image

Members get more

Become a QAGOMA Member and get a FREE ticket to 'Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company', plus pre‑sale access, discounts + more. From $80.

Join today

What to expect

Here’s what to expect at this event.

Everyone is welcome! Please contact events.plus@qagoma.qld.gov.au in advance of the program if you have any access needs or queries about the event. Find out more about Accessibility at QAGOMA and planning your visit.

Participation and content

  • Seating to commence at approximately 5.45pm for this event.
  • This event is designed for people aged 10+.Parents and guardians are encouraged to use their discretion in deciding whether the event feels right for their child’s interests and enjoyment. Please email events.plus@qagoma.qld.gov.au for more information.
  • You are welcome to come with a friend or by yourself. Many people attend the Gallery solo.
  • No special knowledge is required – whether you’re a huge fan of puppets and puppeteering or don’t know the first thing about it, this event is designed to be fun and enjoyable for everyone.
  • There will be opportunities for voluntary participation in this event. You can choose to get involved or just sit back and watch the show.
  • We ask all attendees to be kind, respectful, and courteous to all participants, speakers and staff at this event. This program will be monitored by QAGOMA staff to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our attendees, speakers and staff.

Tickets

  • A valid ‘The Art of Puppetry: Puppeteer Demonstration’ ticket is required to attend this event.
  • QAGOMA Members ticket vouchers are not accepted for this event.
  • Your ‘The Art of Puppetry: Puppeteer Demonstration’ ticket grants access to this event only - it does not include entry to the 'Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company' exhibition. A separate, valid timed ticket is required to visit the exhibition.
  • Tickets can be booked online or over the phone via the QTIX Call Centre – 136 246.
  • QTIX is QAGOMA’s Ticketing provider, with a call centre and box office operating within the QPAC building in the Cultural Centre. QTIX Call Centre open hours details are available via on their website.
  • Cancellation and refund policy: Tickets are not refundable, in line with the QTIX terms and conditions agreed at sale, or transferable if you change your mind. Refunds may be considered in extenuating circumstances at the Gallery's discretion. Please contact events.plus@qagoma.qld.gov.au for more information.

Sensory aspects

  • The speakers will use microphones and there may be amplified music played during the event. Please let us know in advance if you are hard of hearing so we can make this talk accessible for you.
  • A screen/projection will be used during the event.
  • This event will be held in Cinema A, which is a 220-seat theatre space, the lights will be turned down on the audience during the event. You can leave the space at any time and re-enter the event.
  • Seating is tiered, with chairs that have backs. Some rows are at ground level, while others are accessible via stairs.
  • This event is wheelchair and pram accessible.
  • Pre-reserved accessible seating is available, please email events.plus@qagoma.qld.gov.au in advance to request accessible seating.
  • The Gallery air conditioning is set to 21°C to conserve the artworks.
  • This event will be photographed and filmed by QAGOMA staff. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please advise a QAGOMA staff member on arrival.
  • If the event becomes overwhelming or stressful, earmuffs and sensory kits are available. Each kit contains a number of resources for self-regulation and calming. Please speak to a staff member for assistance. These kits can also be requested in advance by emailing access@qagoma.qld.gov.au.

Companion Cards

We accept Companion Cards. A Companion Card is issued by the Queensland Government, for those with a disability and need for attendant care support. The ‘Companion’ ticket type is only valid for your companion to gain complimentary entry. A General Admission, Youth or QAGOMA Member ticket is required for the Companion Card holder to access this event. A valid companion card number is required to be supplied upon booking.