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Outlook: Muppets, marionettes and magic: My life with puppets

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Basil Twist and Stickman in front of the city skyline

28/02/2024 GMT

Muppets, marionettes and magic: My life with puppets

BBC World Service - Outlook, Muppets, marionettes and magic: My life with puppets

How Basil Twist brought Studio Ghibli’s Totoro and his puppet creations to life

Inspired by Muppets creator Jim Henson and his own mother's puppet shows, Basil Twist took his creations on stage in New York beginning a career marvelling crowds with puppetry.

Basil Twist's fascination for puppets started as a child watching productions his mum put on as an amateur puppeteer. Basil built his own puppet characters of Star Wars as a kid and loved it, but became a 'closeted puppeteer' in his teens. It was not cool anymore, and playing with dolls was seen as feminine. 

Basil pursued an education at college, but became unhappy and dropped out. Later moving to New York, Basil could finally embrace his puppetry passions. He scoured phone books and bashed phones to track down people involved in puppetry. His diligence took him around the world, winning awards and captivating crowds along the way. During the pandemic Basil found his biggest challenge to date - bringing the much-loved animated Japanese character Totoro to life for a live action stage show. 

The 'My Neighbour Totoro' Royal Shakespeare Company production is currently showing at the Barbican in London, UK.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar 
Producer: Tommy Dixon

(Photo: Basil Twist and Stickman in front of the city skyline. Credit: Christophe l'Oiseau)

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