About
Elk Puppets- Puppet Shows is a Christmas carolling group for hire in Ringwood, VIC.
Chris runs the Elk Puppets theatre, and it packs down small enough to go almost anywhere. Libraries, schools, childcare centres, community fetes and shopping centres all work. The show runs 30 minutes, built for kinder and junior primary ages, with sing-along songs, music and movement, a game woven into the story, and a few tricks the kids don't see coming. The puppets look like the ones on children's television, which helps. Afterwards there's up to 10 minutes of meet-and-greet so children can hold them. Chris brings his own sound gear and needs power, a flat indoor or undercover surface, and an hour to set up. Shows for shopping centres can run across multiple days. Public liability insurance, equipment cover, Working with Children Check, and membership of UNIMA Australia.
Watch
The show
Thirty minutes of puppet show, built for kinder and junior primary ages, with about 40 minutes set aside once you add the meet and greet at the end. Music and movement keep the little ones on their feet, there's a game folded into the storyline so they're part of it rather than watching it, sing-along songs they can join in with, and a few tricks and surprises they don't see coming. The puppets themselves look like the ones children already know from television, and that recognition does a lot of the work before the show even starts. Afterwards there's up to 10 minutes where kids can come up, say hello and hold them.
On the day
Power is needed, though the sound equipment comes with Chris. The show has to be indoors or undercover on flat ground, out of the wind and rain. The theatre itself measures 1.8 metres across with an overall length of 2.5 metres, and another 1.5 metres of backstage room is needed behind it for the props, the puppets and the drum stool. A spot to load in and park close to the performance space makes a real difference. Allow an hour before showtime for arrival and setting up.
Performance options
The 30 minute event show is the core of it. There are versions pitched for kinder groups and junior primary school audiences, with about 40 minutes allowed for each once the meet and greet is counted. Christmas shows can be stretched or trimmed to fit a Carols by Candlelight or a corporate function. Community shows for fetes, fairs and festivals run a bit shorter at 20 to 30 minutes. Shopping centres can book a package that runs across multiple days, and there are shows for outside school hours care and holiday programs too.
Insurance and paperwork
Public liability insured
Working with Children Check
What they perform
Jokes, stories and well-known children's nursery rhyme songs, rearranged for Elk Puppets and original songs.