Creating big puppets

[KingscoteStaff]

Have posted this in the staffroom as it's for a primary school show, but one of you clever chaps may be able to help...

Has anyone had any experience in building big puppets? I'm thinking something like those ones made of a willow frame and covered in tissue paper. You sometimes see them in carnival processions? Not as complicated as the Warhorse horses, but needing 3 or 4 children to operate them.

TIA

This sort of thing is easier than many.

A head (which doesn't have to be 3d) on a T frame...the branches of the T are the arms...and as you see in the pic, are operated by a child each side with a simple stick mechanism.

The third child is under the "dress" and carries the body/neck of the puppet.

You could do something like this very simply....using long dowels or even branches...the head could be constructed of papier mache or simply of cardboard...big piece painted and hair added from strips of fabric.

Dress made of large sheet or bought fabric...depends on your budget and time.