DILLY
The 'Knocker-Upper'
Clown
DILLY is a reworking of a puppet that was new in the 2025 season.
My first attempt at an Alarm Clock puppet was a monkey.
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He certainly got laughs, but I decided he'd work better as a clown.
While still partway through removing the big Summer Theatre from the summit at the Heights of Abraham, I started making this puppet for next season.
It's never too early to plan ahead.
Two make two identical heads, I used the 'jigsaw puzzle' method of cutting a face out of lime wood.
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Having cut out the parts, each section was then sliced in two, to make two twin faces.
These faces, or 'masks' were then glued onto medium plywood, both to consolidate the shape, and also provide ears.
Sequin fabric was layered under red organza, to prevent the sequins rubbing off.
This will also eventually help prevent the puppets hair snagging on the hats surface.
With any duplicate work, I like to build both items simultaneously.
Completing one task at a time across both hats , helps make sure they are as identical as possible.
The same is true of the clown ruffs both twins will be wearing.
Fiddly work.
But worth it to help both versions of the character look identical.
All these parts were completed in a single day. That's very good progress.
The next day I joined the two heads to a central control rod. This was slower work, and I forgot to take photographs of the process.
I am very happy with the result. Great for two days building.
I will pause there, and come back to working on him after Christmas.
He is not needed until Summer 2026, and the main objective was to get him well started.
It is a huge amount of puppet building for something that will only be onstage for about 30 seconds ...here is the monkey version in action from both the front and backstage in 2025.
Time to start making Dillys alarm clock.
Plastic measuring spoons from B&M will cheaply make great bells.
LOTS MORE PICTURES AND INFO WILL BE ADDED TO THIS PAGE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE
CHECK BACK AGAIN SOON Cheers Richard.
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