Daniel Guy's Blog

  by Daniel Guy Three puppeteers carry the wooden crate from Seb’s van, into the rehearsal space. It’s a large old warehouse that Seb has visited many times before. The main hall is cluttered with puppets, costumes and props and there’s a space in the middle, where the puppeteers have been rehearsing shows for many years.  Thomas, the oldest of the three puppeteers, lifts off the canvass sheet draped over the top of the crate, and the head of Seb’s puppet is revealed. Seb stands watching nervously. He’s spent months making this puppet and now he’s hoping these experienced performers will be able to bring it to life. Thomas slips his right hand into the small hole at the back of the puppet’s head, and then slowly makes it turn from side to side, as if the puppet is looking around at his new surroundings. Thomas reaches into the box with his other hand, and slowly reveals the puppet’s hand and then his arm. This puppet is not manipulated by strings, but by the synchronised manipulat

  by Daniel Guy.  Steve is happy to be spending time with George again. They were close friends for ten years, but then Steve left the town to go to university, and hasn’t been back for three years. George is a very cute 25 year old, who has a permanent smile that Steve has always found very appealing. There’s something about George that makes him very likeable, an innocence maybe, and the willingness to have fun.  ‘So why have you brought us here?’ he says, as George stops the car in a country lay-by, ‘I thought we were going back to your place for a nightcap?’ George turns and grins. They get out of the car and look down a hilly slope to an industrial park, a massive complex of old factory units and warehouses, mostly vacant,  lit up by floodlights, and it’s where the two of them used to hang out at night when they were younger.   ‘Come on Steve. For old time’s sake. The hole in the perimeter fence is still there.’  ‘What? But it’s dark!’ ‘It’s ok,’ says George, reaching