Giant Puppets in Perth, Western Australia, and The War Horse
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (334418)
Rockingham, Australia
March 10, 2020 12:30am CST
The celebrated stage play, The War Horse, is coming to Perth, Western Australia, at the end of the month. We have booked tickets and will be taking my sister with us. Our family had horses throughout my childhood and we’ve both had quite a lot to do with horses since we are looking forward to seeing the play.
The giant horse puppet that they use for the stage show reminded me of the time we drove to Perth to join thousands of others lining the streets to await the arrival of other giant puppets. The young girl and deep-sea diver were brought from France to be part of the celebration of the Festival of Perth. I think it was in 2015.
It was a magical day. While watching the ‘girl’ walk so naturally and turn her head from time to time, you quickly forgot about all the paraphernalia necessary to operate her. Four men on treadmills propelled her forward and teams took it in turn to operate these. During her walk, she donned a raincoat at one point and also rode on a scooter. The walk included a squat to relieve herself.
When the entourage reached a park, she was covered with a tent-affair and changed into her night attire to be put to bed. Even then you could see her chest rising and falling as she ‘breathed’. Both children and adults were mesmerised by the artistry of those responsible.
19 people like this
20 responses
@moffittjc (120856)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Mar 20
What a sight to see for children and adults alike! I've never seen such large puppets before.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (120856)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Mar 20
@JudyEv She definitely looks very intricate and sophisticated in the photo. Could you imagine being in a horror movie and having something that large come to life and terrorize the community? That would be epic!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334418)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Mar 20
@moffittjc You wouldn't want to steal her doll, would you? She'd stomp on you. 
1 person likes this
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
10 Mar 20
If they would need to come to Romania, it would be cancelled because of the corona virus. Every show, every event was cancelled.
1 person likes this
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
11 Mar 20
@JudyEv I understand that they want to protect the people, but they don't take in consideration the collateral damages that are created. Probably, those will be much heavier than the ones done by the corona virus.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334418)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 20
@rappeter13 It's beginning to look that way. Businesses are already collapsing and jobs being lost.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
10 Mar 20
who was pulling the strings of that massive puppet
sorry i couldn't help that!
sorry i couldn't help that!1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334418)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 20
@DocAndersen No, not really but they did have big crane affairs when they put her to bed.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
11 Mar 20
@JudyEv now i am laughing. Can you imagine?
1 person likes this
@lgm92881719 (1082)
• United Kingdom
11 Mar 20
I didn't see this when you posted it but that looks amazing your so lucky to be able to attend something like that :-)
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (176745)
• United States
10 Mar 20
I have never seen a puppet like that...so cool. I am really surprised they had her "relieve herself" though. I can't imagine that happening here. It just wouldn't be done during a large scale event.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
10 Mar 20
The giant puppet is new to me. I never heard of that. We have here giants in a town parade but they are just costumes worn by a man on stilts. That puppet is intricate and the movement needs coordination. Thank you for sharing another trivia in your culture.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
11 Mar 20
@JudyEv for sure those puppets are costly and you need a team to make it move in the parade.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (170718)
• United States
10 Mar 20
Giant puppet girl! That's really interesting how they operate her.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87128)
• Bangalore, India
10 Mar 20
Thanks for sharing this Judy. I could visualize every word written by you. And surely it must be mesmerizing to see such a well coordinated art. I would love to experience something like that.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (88350)
• Arvada, Colorado
10 Mar 20
Wow Judy I had never known of this event. That puppet is huge.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334418)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 20
It was a great day. A really feel-good, happy parade. Seeing the faces on the kids was great and the adults were just as gob-smacked. 
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
10 Mar 20
Never saw something like that before.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334418)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 20
We hadn't either but it was pretty gob-smacking. (Is that a verb? 
) Sometimes you (meaning us) really should make the effort to go and see these types of events. I'm glad we did. We were able to stay with our friend who lived in the next street so we didn't have to worry about trying to find somewhere to park.
) Sometimes you (meaning us) really should make the effort to go and see these types of events. I'm glad we did. We were able to stay with our friend who lived in the next street so we didn't have to worry about trying to find somewhere to park.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334418)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 20
This was a very special event. The people manipulating the puppet were very skilful.
