Welcome to The Puppetsmithery
Come in, sit down, grab a cup of tea and let’s talk about Puppets!
The Puppetsmithery is a collective of artists woven into the guts of Melbournes buzzing puppetry community.
We specialize in creating unique, handcrafted puppetry experiences. With expertise in both construction and performance, our team is here to help bring your ideas to life—starting from scratch or jumping in wherever you need us.
Founded by Jhess Knight—trained at the London School of Puppetry and steeped in years of hands-on experience—The Puppetsmithery kicked off in 2013 as a solo expedition. Since then, it’s grown into a vibrant collective, proud to work with some of the best puppet nerds in the biz.
What we do:
We create, perform, repair, teach, and connect.
Here’s how we get our hands dirty!
Custom Puppets – From TV to theatre to festivals, we craft one-of-a-kind characters that steal the show.
Performance – Need a puppeteer who can work the crowd? We’ve got you covered.
Shows – Give us your brief and we will bring it to life on stage!
Marionettes – We love this classic form and are proud to continue building and performing with marionettes, a style that has become less common among our peers.
Roving Puppetry – Bring the fun to your festival or event with larger-than-life puppets that roam and engage.
Private Group Workshops – Book us for hands-on group workshops in puppet making and/or performance. Whether you’re a work team, a school or community group or a group of friends looking to try something new, we’ll tailor the session to suit your needs.
Creative Consultation – Got a puppet project in mind? Let’s talk it through and make it happen.
Sculpture – Not just puppets—we sculpt unique, standout pieces for display and installation.
Puppet Doctoring – Got a puppet in need of some TLC? We’ll patch it up and get it back to life.
Networking – If we can’t provide what you need, we’ll connect you with the right artists or companies who can. We’ve got the puppet community on speed dial.
Our Clients
We’ve had the privilege of working on projects such as Judy & Punch and The Emu Wars, as well as TV shows like ABC's The Pack Down and Australian Epic. We've also collaborated with well-known brands and organizations, including ABC Kids, Zoos Victoria, Whistle & Trick, Chadstone Shopping Centre, HVK Productions, Balloon Tree Productions, A Blanck Canvas, Creature Technology Company, and Black Hole Theatre, among others.
Jhess is also the mastermind behind Trash Puppets, where creativity meets sustainability education. Check it out at www.trashpuppets.com.
Get in Touch
Got a burning question or want to know more about our puppetry shenanigans? Drop us a line via the Contact page.
And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @thepuppetsmithery
