Growing up I was consistently intrigued by puppetry, as an adult I have worked to create the kind of puppet theatre that my childhood self dreamt of and to pass the dream on to a new generation of children.
In 2006 I met my business partner Jamie Duncombe and formed Creature Encounter. We are street theatre alchemists, theatrical engineers and master puppet makers, continuing in the proud and ancient traditions of nomadic Showmen. We re-invent the puppet, mask and clown for contemporary audiences, fusing special effects artistry and street theatre spectacle to help people, places & events to connect, share, play and celebrate life.
We believe that a thriving street art scene is a key barometer and ambassador of the cultural health of a nation. That street arts lead communities to feel the environment in which they live and work is more than a collection of buildings, it is an immersive, interactive cultural experience. Where art enlivens the streets and brings an opulent cultural ambience, it is the symptom of a community that thrives rather than just survives, a place worth caring about. Such communities are desirable because they fore-fill our basic human needs for celebration, connection, variety and significance.
This work has taken our company across the UK and the world, delivering our exotic beasts into the beating cultural and economic hearts of our global communities. Across cultures our work uniformly sparks wonder in the children and adults we meet and I believe the world is a little better for our having been here.
Previous clients include…
BBC / The Royal Family / No 10 Downing Street / Ministry of Defence / Royal Opera House / Punch Drunk Theatrical Experiences / London Olympics 2012 / Gatwick Airport Airside 2016 -19 / The Golden Mask Festival 2018-19 (Russia) P2BK 2013 & 14 (Kuwait) / Sumarecon Mall (Indonesia) / City of Wings 2013 (Belgium) / Ce Plage à la fin du Monde (France) / Tallhin Celebration (Estonia) / Dubai Shopping Festival / Remal International Festival (Kuwait) / Flipside Festival (Singapore) / Monaco International Festival (Monaco) / Festivalito (Spain) / Doha International Spring Festival / Festival of Fools (Belfast) / Golden Mask Festival (Russia) / Glastonbury Festival / Wilderness Festival / Freedom Festival, Hull / Greenbelt Festival / Cornbury Festival / Nottingham Riverside Festival / Presfest / Weee! Festival / The Big Splash / Witham Puppet Festival / Beverly Puppet Festival / Oldham Festival / May Day Parade, Ghent / Formula One Bahrain / HSBC / Royal Bank of Scotland / Fitch Ratings Ltd / Bloomberg / Facebook / BP / Westfield / E20 / Coca Cola / Pret / Nimans / Alnwick Garden / Centre Parcs / Yorkshire Wildlife Park / Marwell Zoo / Oxford St Christmas Illuminations / Help for Heroes / HMS Excellent / RAF Northolt / And thousands of shopping centres, business improvement districts, festivals, and private parties….phew! Where haven’t we been?