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Puppets built and performed for
stage and screen

From custom-built puppet characters, props and costumes to expert puppeteering and performance, Show of Hands Puppets provides everything needed to bring the magic of puppetry to your next project.

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Built From Uncertain Times

Show of Hands Puppets began in 2020, when the lockdowns brought Joe’s planned puppeteering work to a sudden halt. Having always made puppets alongside performing, he started sharing his creations online… and, surprisingly quickly, that passion became a full-time business.

Since then, Joe has created puppets for projects of all sizes across stage and screen. Inspired from an early age by the wonderfully tactile, character-filled worlds of Jim Henson and his team, he specialises in expressive soft-foam hand-and-rod and live-arm puppets.

Explore Joe’s work in the gallery below →

PRESENTING

A Few Favourite Projects

Explore a selection of Joe's recent projects

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Puppet Rental

Need a puppet character for a pilot, early-stage theatre production or lower-budget project? Hiring one of our ready-made puppets can be a practical, affordable way to get a clean, screen-ready character without the cost and lead time of a full custom build.

Browse the available puppets, then get in touch with the one you’re interested in and how long you’ll need it for. Subject to availability, puppets can usually be shipped out within the week.

 

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Dodge's Pup School

I was very fortunate to be enrolled onto the second series of the award winning CBeebies show Dodges Pup School as part of its trainee scheme.

As my first experience of a professional television puppet show set, this experience was life altering as it gave me the drive to want to continue pursuing a career in screen puppetry.

I would be tasked with roles that included doubling for some of the principal performers second characters, assisting in the form of right handing both live arms and rodded arm characters and providing lots of the background business with the smaller character like Butterflies, Bugs and Beetles and most notably the adorable Chihuahuas coming up with lots of ideas to pepper the back ground with subtle comedic moments.

Sooty

I have been very fortunate to work for beloved children’s character Sooty on various projects.

Most notably was his 75th anniversary tour in 2023/24. We travelled to over 50 theatres.

Puppeteering such an iconic character from people’s memory was a joy to be handed the responsibility of.

I Spy You Spy

It was a pleasure to work on the second series of CBeebies show I Spy You Spy as an assistant puppeteer and wrangler.

Part of my role involved providing rod arm assistance to Lead puppeteer Beccy Henderson during Elsee’s Iconic happy dance routine, rigging various costumes and props between.

It was also crucial to regularly make Elsee “screen ready” and make sure she was always looking her best for each take.

Freaky Friday

In 2025 I was approached by theatrical designer David Shields to build some characters for a show he was working on at The Home theatre in Manchester.

Being a Disney property, this was a great responsibility however the characters were new for the stage adaptation, so I was able to have some fun with them and enjoy a level of creative freedom.

The puppets were performed by child actors so had to be light, easy for small hands to operate but also durable to last a 2-month run of 8 shows a week.

Snow White

As part of the 2023 Wolverhampton Pantomime Snow White, I was commissioned to make 7 puppets collectively known as The Peaky Miners.

I worked closely with the fantastic team producing the show in house and most notably designer David Shields to create 7 unique and engaging character types who were performed by the multitalented ensemble.

They went down a treat, and I have continued building characters for the yearly Pantomime in following years!

Glastonbury

I have been performing all sorts of shows puppet shows in the Glastonbury Festival “Kids Field”.

It started with a Punch and Judy show. I have since developed a Unique Circus Marionette Cabaret act which after trialling out at Glastonbury, I have toured to many events and festivals in Essex and Greater Anglia.