Tutor: Andy Heath / Suitable for: 8 – 12 years / playdays Children’s Festival
Only 20 spaces available!
Jersey-born puppeteer Andy Heath has been working in the film, TV and theatre industry for over 25 years. He has worked with world-renowned organisations including: Henson’s, Disney and the BBC to create, build and operate hundreds of characters. Join Andy for this exciting all-day workshop to create a puppet of your own – and enjoy the opportunity to work with one of the UK’s leading puppet industry professionals.
Andy Heath is a British puppeteer who began his career on Doctor Dolittle – The Musical (1998). Since then, he has had the pleasure of working with many studios, including the Jim Henson Company, Walt Disney Productions and Paramount Pictures.
TV credits include: Ripley and Scruff, Play With Me Sesame, Scoop, Get Well Soon, Yonderland, Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and The Furchester Hotel, where he also had the role of puppet captain. In 2023 he provided the reference performance for Knuckles in the soon to be released series of the same name and was also part of the team that brought the Goblin King to life in the Doctor Who Christmas Special.
Through 2009-2011 he co-designed, built and operated the puppets for BBC3’s adult sitcom Mongrels with his business partner, Iestyn Evans. Together they run Talk to Hand Puppets.
His film credits include: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2004), Tales of the Riverbank (2008), Muppets Most Wanted (2014), Harry Hill – The Movie (2013), Victor Frankenstein (2014), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2014), Star Wars: Solo (2018) and most recently Sonic the Hedgehog 3, on which he again provided the reference performance for Knuckles and Shadow.
From 2015 – 2018 he performed Jackson for Three UK’s Make it Right campaign and most recently brought the latex creations to life on Spitting Image. In 2023 he won the role of Otis the Otter for the Thames Water campaign, Everyone’s Water.
Having discovered The Muppet Show in 1976 and subsequently Fraggle Rock in 1983, he fell in love with the magic and wonder of puppets and puppetry. “The great Jim Henson created wonderful characters, fantastic worlds and an amazing sense of fun. He has also inspired generation of puppeteers. Thanks Jim.”
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