October 2015 - Larrikin Puppets - Puppet Show | Kids Entertainment | Children’s Entertainer | Event Entertainment

Troggg meets Agro and Beppo the Clown

Posted on October 27, 2015December 11, 2019 by Brett Hansen

During one weekend in October 2015, Brett and Troggg got to rub shoulders with legends of children’s entertainment!
Remember Australian puppet character Agro? Puppeteered by Jamie Dunn, Agro was on TV all throughout the 1980s and 1990s on shows like The Hi Hello Show, Seven’s Super Saturday Show, Wombat, The Super Sunday Show, Boris’ Breakfast Club, Agro’s Cartoon Connection, The Main Event, Family Feud, Tonight Live with Steve Vizard, etc.
On Friday, 23 October 2015, Elissa, Brett and Troggg went along to the Studio Theatre and Cafe to catch a performance of “Agro Up Late”, starring Jamie Dunn, Jill Ray (one of Agro’s co-hosts in the 1980s) and Agro himself.
There was a meet-and-greet in the foyer after the show, and that’s when Troggg got to meet his hero Agro.
The next day, Larrikin Puppets performed a puppet show at the Goodna Jacaranda Festival. Performing just before and after the puppet show was the legendary Beppo the Clown (aka Barry Cannon).

Barry has been performing as Beppo the Clown since 1960. He’s now in his 80s and still going strong! Brett chatted at length with Barry (who also used to appear on Agro’s show in the early days) and learnt a lot about the children’s entertainment industry over the last 50 years.
A quote from Brett: “You know you’re doing something right as a children’s entertainer when ‘Beppo the Clown’ tells you that your puppet show is engaging, entertaining and contains appropriate and catchy songs for the litte ones. I should’ve asked him to give that to me in writing!”

It was a very special couple of days, being able to rub shoulders with childhood heroes Agro and Beppo the Clown, who helped inspire us to bring happiness to kids in the same way that they did for many years before Troggg came into the picture.

A Different and Interesting Puppet Life – by Brett Hansen

Posted on October 10, 2015December 11, 2019 by Brett Hansen

I like my life because every day is different and interesting. Last week I performed puppet shows at a library, a fish & chips restaurant and a school.

I attended four dinner/drinks gatherings, including one in a back alley American style bar and one on a union roof top.
This week I got to meet two goblins (Hobble & Snitch) and perform some puppetry on their show.

Then for a film, I puppeteered a psychiatrist in a session with acclaimed artist Richard Bell. For the same film, I also puppeteered two characters relaxing on a beach, a monster throwing darts, another monster painting on canvas, and lead a team of puppets on horses galloping into a nightclub.
I attended a theatre tribute show of 1980s sitcom, “The Golden Girls” (Thank You For Being a Friend) starring puppet versions of the cast.
I also performed music at the weekly improv comedy show I’ve been a part of for the last four years.

On Monday, my beautiful wife Elissa and I will be flying down to Melbourne (with Troggg) to attend the National NEIS Association Awards Gala Dinner. Larrikin Puppets is a finalist in the ‘BizCover NEIS Change Award’ category.
The reason why my business is a finalist in that particular category is because my life went through some huge changes at the time of its inception three years ago.
And whether I win the award or not, my life is better than it ever was before three years ago because every day is now different and interesting.
Brett Hansen – Owner and Principal Puppeteer at Larrikin Puppets.

Troggg & friends visit the outback community of Murra Murra

Posted on October 10, 2015December 11, 2019 by Brett Hansen

On September 19 2015, after a 10 hour drive from Brisbane with an overnight stop at Moonie, Elissa and Brett (along with all of the puppets) arrived at the outback community of Murra Murra near Nebine (between Bollon and Cunnamulla), the traditional land of the Kooma people. A large portion of this land is now an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA).

They took part in a cultural exchange program called “Kooma Green School” where they camped, toured the land, saw ancient remnants and learnt about looking after country and nature.

Troggg and friends performed a puppet show as part of the program. The local Kooma kids of Murra Murra and all others present as part of the program had a great time!

MC Troggg introduces I Am Big Bird (Brisbane’s only screening)

Posted on October 3, 2015December 11, 2019 by Brett Hansen

On Monday 14th of September 2015, Larrikin Puppets (via Tugg and Vendetta Films) presented Brisbane’s only screening of award winning documentary “I Am Big Bird – The Caroll Spinney Story” at Event Cinemas, Myer Centre. About 140 people attended, which was a really great turnout!

Other cities in Australia got a general release of this film, but Brisbane missed out for some reason! So Brett Hansen created a petition to get the film into Brisbane cinemas. Eventually, the distribution company Vendetta Films stepped up and decided to help by sending the film to Tugg – an organisation who can get rare and independent films onto the big screen wherever you are in the world. Their partnership in Brisbane is Event Cinemas. So with thanks to Vendetta Films, Tugg and the wonderful Lauren, Tim and the team at Event Cinemas Myer Centre, we had our screening – hosted by Troggg.

The serious side of the event was to do with ovarian cancer. Brett Hansen lost his Mum Helen to ovarian cancer in 2010. His brothers Todd and Dale have done many things over the years to raise money for research and awareness – fun runs, stair climbs, beach volleyball. Brett wanted to run an event where he could use HIS skills, which include hiding behind things and putting his hand inside things. Finally, an opportunity came up where he could present a movie about another guy who likes to hide behind things and put his hand inside things… Or in the case of Big Bird – both at the same time! So the evening was dedicated to the memory of Brett’s Mum.

5% of ticket sales and all money raised from the raffle tickets was donated to the QLD Centre for Gynaecological Cancer Research, who are very busy trying to find early detection methods for ovarian cancer. There is no way of knowing or checking if you have it until it’s too late. A big thank you to QCGC Research for getting on board with this special evening.

I Am Big Bird – The Caroll Spinney Story chronicles the life of puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who is in his 80s and still working at Sesame Street today! From a bullied child to working with Jim Henson and performing two of the world’s most loveable and iconic characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

It was a very heartwarming film with a lot of unbelievable events that made the whole room fill with gasps. It was also very funny. All who attended were very thankful to have witnessed such a thought provoking film.

Please enjoy these photos of the event – from the raffle ticket table in the foyer to Troggg’s introduction of the film.