Larrikin Puppets have returned to the Queensland Children’s Hospital for another fun episode of Juiced TV! Our puppet character Troggg the blue monster first appeared on Juiced TV way back in Season 1.
After few more appearances over the years, Brett and Elissa returned to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in February 2024 to film a brand new episode about how puppets work.
Characters featured include Scrambles, Freerange the Chicken and Erse.
Juiced TV is a children’s infotainment program that benefits the health and wellbeing of sick kids and their families in hospital. Filmed at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, the show features many children from hospital as presenters and airs on the patient’s TVs. Troggg the blue monster co-hosted an episode of the show in 2015. The end of the episode featured Brett demonstrating how Troggg and some of our other puppets work. A couple of years later, Troggg featured as an interviewer on location at Juiced TV’s Paddle For Kids event at South Bank Parklands. And in 2021 Troggg and Marina appeared on a special Christmas storytime episode of the show.
If you’d like to see us on those other episodes of Juiced TV plus many more appearances on film, TV and music videos, you can see all of that here: https://test.larrikinpuppets.com.au/videos/
Not shown on this particular episode (S11, E10) are some short “Feel Good Friday” episodes which will air over the coming weeks and months starring Troggg and Marina telling a series of funny jokes. These segments were filmed on the same day – which was Thursday 29 February, 2024.
It’s always very rewarding to visit the Queensland Children’s Hospital not only to work on cool, fun TV episodes like this, but also to bring smiles and laughter to the children who are there with illness or injury and need all the joy they can get during such a difficult time.
Elissa and Troggg presented a talk at the highly acclaimed TEDx Brisbane on 14 October 2023.
The theme for TEDx Brisbane 2023 was ‘The Power of Intention’. What is our intention when it comes to the art of puppetry?
We are super proud of both the delivery and the content of our TEDx Talk. The professional video recording is available to watch on YouTube here.
A big thanks to Juanita, Rob and everyone at TEDx Brisbane for your support in rehearsing and producing our talk. It was an experience we’ll never forget!
We have big news! Elissa and Troggg have been invited to present a talk at the highly acclaimed TEDx Brisbane on 14 October 2023.
The theme for TEDx Brisbane this year is ‘The Power of Intention’. What is our intention when it comes to the art of puppetry?
And don’t be surprised if you spot us on a digital billboard around Greater Brisbane in the coming weeks! If you do, be sure to snap a photo and send it our way.
We have another exciting music video collaboration announcement coming soon!
On Thursday, 29 October 2020 we had the great pleasure of meeting a group of very popular, award winning musicians and posing with our puppet characters for a photo shoot.
Our next meeting with these artists will be the filming of a crazy new music video for a song that will be a POP ANTHEM! Don’t be surprised if you start to see our characters Troggg, Flossy, Frazzamatazz and Freerange the Chicken all over the place very soon in photos and video clips associated with these VERY popular and talented acts.
Short trailer of a web series I recently had the pleasure of performing the puppet character on! Can’t wait to share the whole series with you! – Brett.
A sneaky glimpse of the brand new comedy series by Cheeky Moon, premiering in 2021.
Could this mysterious self-help organisation be a cult? Find out next year on IT’S A CULT!
Starring Christine Milo, Rhys McCane, Bronte Pearce and Sam Monaghan.
With Luisa Prosser, Daren King and Mark Grimes as the voice of Professor James Gilmour.
Written and directed by Claire Coe & Alastair Craig
Also appearing among the many splendid faces in this teaser: Amy Currie, Drew Lochrie, Rosa Sottile, Coen Gilbert, Dan Beeston, Tamara McLaughlin, Taylor Edwards and Jordan Schulte.
Directors of Photography in excerpts shown: Sean Smith / Dean Swindell / Owen Smith & David Aponas (Short Stack Productions)
Special guest puppetry by Brett Hansen of Larrikin Puppets.
Puppeteers Brett Hansen and Elissa Jenkins from Larrikin Puppets are delighted and honoured to be working on a music video, performing puppet versions of Regurgitator’s Pogogo Show band members and characters: Ben Ely, Quan Yeomans, Pete Kostic, the effervescent Koko direct from Planet Rainbow, Ghost Cat and Mr. Butt. You can find out all about Regurgitator’s Pogogo Show at their official website.
Their debut album – The Really Really Really Really Boring Album (released through ABC Music) – is available to order or download from a number of different platforms listed here.
This is not the first time Larrikin Puppets have performed in a music video. Back in 2017, Triple J Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative Winner Tia Gostelow released a single called, “That’s What You Get”, which featured puppetry by Brett and Elissa in the video. While the bulk of puppetry work Larrikin Puppets do is live performances, film and television work is always special for Brett and Elissa. Australia doesn’t have as many opportunities for puppeteers on television anymore. Gone are the days of Agro, Ozzie Ostrich, The Channel Niners, C’mon Kids, Shirl’s Neighbourhood, Lift Off, The Ferals, Mr. Squiggle and countless TV commercials featuring zany puppet characters made of felt and fur. Opportunities like this are rare and very much appreciated by Larrikin Puppets. Brett Hansen has received advanced, formal training in the USA by Jim Henson puppeteers from Sesame Street and The Muppets – with specific focus on Henson style monitor puppetry for film and TV. Elissa Jenkins too has received some training in the USA at NYC’s The Puppet Kitchen.
Larrikin Puppets also provide puppetry for short films, TV shows and commercials. Our blue monster star Troggg will appear in any production, or Brett Hansen can puppeteer characters that you have created.
If you have a cast of performers without puppetry experience, Brett can provide training and supervision on set. We have received formal film and TV monitor puppetry training in the USA under Jim Henson puppeteers from The Muppets and Sesame Street. Examples of our Film and TV puppetry (both as performer and trainer/supervisor): Totally Wild – Long running kids’ TV series on Network Ten, Channel Eleven and TenPlay. In an episode filmed in January 2018 (aired in March 2018), Brooke Marsden interviews Brett Hansen about puppets, and uses Frazzamatazz to learn puppetry techniques. Brett Hansen and Elissa Jenkins perform Troggg, Marina, Flossy and Frizzby in the segment:
The Bureau of Magical Things – Kids’ fantasy-drama TV series on Network Ten and Channel Eleven produced by Jonathan M. Shiff, and starring Kimie Tsukakoshi, Jamie Carter, Elizabeth Cullen, Julian Cullen, Mia Milnes, Rainbow Wedell, Melanie Zanetti, Nicholas Bell, Christopher Sommers and Steve Nation. Brett Hansen was a puppeteer in Episode 11 – performing a magical pogo stick. Below are Brett’s scenes. Brett’s in the dumpster wrestling with Kyra (played by Kimie Tsukakoshi), and he has been digitally removed from scenes where the stick is bouncing around. The movement is all puppetry rather than CGI. There were three versions of the pogo stick. Two of them were puppets with green rigging attached for Brett to manipulate it. The third had no rigging, and was used in close ups where Brett peeked it out from behind a tree, made it look both ways, jiggle and fall down.
Juiced TV – Kids’ TV series created by Juiced Enterprises. Produced by Pip Russell, in partnership with Children’s Hospital Foundation. Brett Hansen puppeteered Troggg throughout the show as host, and was interviewed about puppetry during the show’s final segment:
Tia Gostelow: That’s What You Get – Music video produced by Emma Giddins, and directed by Branden Wittchen & Luke Angelo-Roberts at Why Not? Films. Larrikin Puppets’ Brett Hansen and Elissa Jenkins puppeteered Rick and Louisa – two puppets built for the project by Scott Richards at Maxx Puppets. As well as Tia Gostelow and the puppets, the video also stars actor Ryan Hance:
5 for 35 – Short film written and produced by Richard Bell. Co-Produced by Josh Milani. Directed by Brad Lindenmayer. Brett Hansen puppeteered Lil Gary Foley Psychiatrist, Lil Death (Moss) and others throughout the film. Screened in 2015/2016 at the 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT8) – Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art.
Kev – Short film written by Branden J Wittchen, directed Luke Angelo-Roberts & Branden J Wittchen, and produced by Emma Giddins of Why Not? Films. Brett Hansen performed the puppetry for two characters in the film – Kev (a bigoted Aussie orange monster played by Frizzby) and a bumbling puppet Police officer who has his priorities all wrong:
Heart of a Thousand Souls – Short film written and directed by Luke Walker, and produced by Jessica Magro. Along with Troggg (who has a minor role), the film stars Tahlia Jade, Ben Taylor, Charnstar Anderson, Kaushik Das, Cory Simpson and Rachel Partridge. Brett Hansen puppeteered Troggg in a few scenes:
http://vimeo.com/98850096
Vox Poppin’ – Troggg’s street interviews video by Greg Kelly at Creative Clones:
The Puppeteer – Larrikin Puppets documentary by Gabor Kukucska from InspireFlix:
https://inspireflix.com/docos/the-puppeteer/
The Late Nite Show – TV show on 31 Digital, created by Scott Black. Troggg appeared as a guest a few times:
Showreel – TV show on 31 Digital, written by Matt Clayton, Clare Abbotts, Dani Bachinger, John Ryan, Catherine Tucker, Kristy Walker, and produced by Dan Randall. Production coordinator Brooke Matthews. Interview with Brett Hansen and Troggg:
CLUCK! Episode 1: The Cockblock of the Century – Web Series written by Lucy Nicklan, produced by Stephanie Walsh, and directed by Vincent Chen. Brett Hansen provided puppetry training, assistance and supervision on set for the two puppet characters (played by Jake Ashton and Kitty Gatling), puppeteered the main character in one scene, and puppeteered a tie being pulled into a paper shredder:
CLUCK! Episode 2: Fowl Behavior – Web Series written by Lucy Nicklan, produced by Stephanie Walsh, and directed by Vincent Chen. Brett Hansen provided puppetry training, assistance and supervision on set for the two puppet characters (played by Jake Ashton and Kitty Gatling), puppeteered the main character in one scene, and puppeteered a tie being pulled into a paper shredder:
CLUCK! Episode 3: Poultry in Motion – Web Series written by Lucy Nicklan, produced by Stephanie Walsh, and directed by Vincent Chen. Brett Hansen provided puppetry training, assistance and supervision on set for the two puppet characters (played by Jake Ashton and Kitty Gatling), puppeteered the main character in one scene, and puppeteered a tie being pulled into a paper shredder:
CLUCK! Behind The Scenes: The Puppets – Footage of Brett Hansen and Jake Ashton working with the puppets made by Lierre Beutel and Gemma Keliher:
Triple J Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative Winner Tia Gostelow has a brand new single out called, “That’s What You Get”. The song’s music video features puppets, and Larrikin Puppets (Brett Hansen & Elissa Jenkins) performed puppetry in it! Puppets built by Scott Richards from Maxx Puppets.
Film production company: Why Not? Films.
Directors: Branden Wittchen & Luke Angelo-Roberts.
Producer: Emma Giddins.
Also starring: Ryan Hance.
Check out Tia’s single on Triple J (on rotation), Spotify, iTunes and Apple Music. See www.tiagostelow.com for news and tour dates!
Here’s the official music video for your viewing pleasure:
Caboolture film maker Gabor Kukucska set himself a challenge to make 52 short documentaries in 2017. That’s one per week! These documentaries are about inspirational people. And one of these people is Queensland puppeteer Brett Hansen – founder of Larrikin Puppets.
From childhood bullying and awful workplaces to personal difficulties like unemployment and the end of his first marriage, this 13 minute film tells the whole story. Strong encouragement from his loving family helped shape Brett’s life, and eventually he met the love of his life Elissa Jenkins, whose support has meant the world to Brett in the continuing growth of Larrikin Puppets.
The film also talks about the types of bookings Larrikin Puppets receive, including puppet shows and puppetry workshops. We learn about the Small Business Development Conference in Melbourne, and Brett’s advanced training in the USA with puppeteers from The Muppets and Sesame Street.
This is the teaser trailer that was shown in the lead up to the film’s official release:
The full 13 minute film is available to see now for free at https://inspireflix.com/docos/the-puppeteer/ by creating a free (and quick) login or signing in with Facebook. The login gate is because film festivals don’t accept films with full public access on YouTube or other such video sharing sites. We would love to see this film accepted and screened at festivals around the world. But we would also love you to login and see the film here and now at the InspireFlix website (formerly My Doco Club).
Here’s the preliminary video from Facebook starring Troggg the blue monster: https://www.facebook.com/InspireFlix/videos/1795284477458119
NOW LIVE at https://inspireflix.com/docos/the-puppeteer/ – “The Puppeteer” – Brett’s dream to become a working puppeteer, and the struggles and triumphs along the way.
FILM CREDITS
Brett Hansen, Elissa Jenkins, Ross Hansen, Sandra Gartner, Troggg, Freerange the Chicken, Frazzamatazz.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Production – Buyah Media
Cinematography – Gabor Kukucska
Kev – The film that our very own puppet star Frizzby starred in (with the help of his handler Brett Hansen) – was shortlisted for Tropfest 25. It didn’t make the finalists, but to be on the shortlist is a great achievement in itself.
Kev (a Griffith Film School student film, written by Branden J Wittchen, directed Luke Angelo-Roberts & Branden J Wittchen, and produced by Emma Giddins) is not for children, as it contains adult themes and course language. Brett performed the puppetry for two characters in the film – Kev (a bigoted Aussie orange monster played by Frizzby) and a bumbling puppet Police officer who has his priorities all wrong.
You can see and read more about the film at the official Kev Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KevShortFilm/ Photos from the set of Kev can also be found in a photo album at the Larrikin Puppets Facebook page here.
Why Not? Films and Griffith Film School presents ‘Kev’. A Luke & Brando Film. The film stars Candice Hill, Ryan Hance and Abhi Mehta, along with Brett Hansen as the puppeteer and voice for both Kev and the Cop.
Fun Fact: Much of the filming of Kev took place at Shaw Road News, a popular community news agent store in Wavell Heights, Brisbane. Writer/Director Branden J Wittchen was a staff member of the store, and was able to secure the permission to use the store after hours as a filming location, and the main setting of the film itself.
Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds,
Baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing;
Wasn’t that a dainty dish,
To set before the king.
The king was in his counting house,
Counting out his money;
The queen was in the parlour,
Eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird
And pecked off her nose.
Brett Hansen Puppeteer Showreel – 2 Min, 45 Sec Version. This shorter version features clips from puppet shows, Vox Poppin’, Juiced TV, Cluck! The Web Series, Heart of a Thousand Souls, 5 for 35, Avenue Q, Thank Troggg You’re Here, The Hobble & Snitch Show, Murra Murra and The Late Nite Show.
Brett Hansen Puppeteer Showreel – 4 Minute Version. Features clips from puppet shows, Juiced TV, Cluck! The Web Series, Heart of a Thousand Souls, 5 for 35, Avenue Q, The Hobble & Snitch Show, Sam The Ham, Murra Murra, The Late Nite Show, Thank Troggg You’re Here, and Vox Poppin’.
Brett Hansen is the principal puppeteer at Larrikin Puppets, and won the 2015 BizCover NEIS Change Award at the Small Business Development Conference in Melbourne for his work forming and growing the company over its first three years.
Brett’s weekly puppetry work consists mostly of live performances at childcare centres, schools, libraries, festivals and birthday parties around South-East Queensland. He also runs beginner puppetry workshops at schools. Brett spent a week in residence at Belmont State School teaching each child from prep to year 6 the art of storytelling through puppetry as part of the 2016 Belmont Literary Carnivale.
In 2016, Brett spent three months in the USA for professional development where he networked, trained and performed with puppeteers in New York City, Los Angeles and Texas. He received formal puppetry training at the Beyond The Sock advanced puppetry workshop at the University of North Texas under Marty Robinson (The Jim Henson Company, Sesame Street) and Noel MacNeal (Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House), with puppet construction training from Pasha Romanowski (Project Puppet, The Moe Show). Brett also trained at The Puppet Kitchen in Manhattan, New York under Michael Schupbach (Sesame Street, The Jim Henson Company), performed in New York City at the Puppetry Arts Festival of Brooklyn.
Brett Hansen with Marty Robinson, Pasha Romanowski, and Noel MacNeal.
In theatre, Brett was puppetry trainer for the casts of both the 2012 and 2014 Brisbane Arts Theatre productions of Broadway musical, ‘Avenue Q‘. Brett was also a puppeteer cast member in the 2012 production, co-performing the characters of Nicky and Trekkie Monster. Brett’s own improv theatre show ‘Thank Troggg You’re Here: A Puppet Impro Spectacular!’ debuted at the 2014 Anywhere Theatre Festival and has been performed several times to large audiences.
Brett also performed the puppetry for Studio Theatre & Cafe’s Saturday morning kids’ stage show, ‘The Super Weekend Show’.
In film, Brett performed the puppet characters in Richard Bell’s ‘5 for 35’, which screened at the 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT8) at GOMA (Queensland’s Gallery Of Modern Art) in 2015-2016. He also assisted with the puppetry in ‘Cluck: The Web Series’, puppeteered Troggg in the short film ‘Heart of a Thousand Souls’, and puppeteered two characters in the short film ‘Kev’. On TV, Brett has performed puppetry on ‘The Late Nite Show’ and ‘Showreel’ (both at Channel 31) and hosted (as Troggg) an episode of ‘Juiced TV’, a children’s programme created in partnership with the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Some of this work can be seen in both the short and long versions of Brett’s puppeteer showreel.
Kev – The film that our very own puppet star Frizzby starred in (with the help of his handler Brett Hansen) – was shortlisted for Tropfest 25. It didn’t make the finalists, but to be on the shortlist is a great achievement in itself.
Brett performed the puppetry for two characters in the film – Kev (a bigoted Aussie orange monster played by Frizzby) and a bumbling puppet Police officer who has his priorities all wrong.
Photos from the set of Kev can also be found in a photo album at the 
Brett Hansen is the principal puppeteer at Larrikin Puppets, and won the 2015 BizCover NEIS Change Award at the Small Business Development Conference in Melbourne for his work forming and growing the company over its first three years.
