After writing the book Hamish the Hedgehog, the Kitchen Critter, I wanted to bring Hamish to life in a puppet form.
Why a Puppet?
The real Hamish the hedgehog is shy and nocturnal (he sleeps during the day and parties all night!). Hamish must be kept at a temperature between 68 and 84 degrees, and his diet consists of mealworms, crickets, veggies, and fruit. The puppet version of Hamish will be able to travel to book signings, attend live appearances, and appear on video and TV shows. Unlike the real Hamish, puppet Hamish is not nocturnal, does not need a controlled temperature, and can eat anything! Puppet Hamish will also give everyone a real big Hamish Hedgie hug! The real Hamish’s hugs are smaller and virtual, but still a great hug.
The art of puppet creation requires hours of design and fabrication to achieve the perfect look. Choosing among the many different types of puppets—from small shadow puppets to giant parade puppets—to match the appearance, functionality, and movement for a character takes careful consideration, especially for our Hamish!
Who better to create the puppet version of the Kitchen Critter than New York City’s Puppet Kitchen? Since 2008, Puppet Kitchen has been bringing curious creatures to life for the stage, screen, and live events, with puppets featured on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, CBS’s Life in Pieces, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, the San Diego Zoo’s Centennial Celebration, and Thom Browne’s Paris Fashion Week, to name a few. Check out all their amazing puppets on their website www.puppetkitchen.com and stay up-to-date with their work on Instagram @thepuppetkitchen.
Eric Wright, Puppet Kitchen’s co-founder and president, can currently be seen in the off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors as one of the puppeteers of the giant, man-eating plant, Audrey II (see www.littleshopNYC.com).
The Puppet Kitchen team was extremely collaborative; they studied the Hamish illustrations and learned all about his character to make the best puppet version of our beloved hedgehog. Eric worked with acclaimed puppet builder Jamie Bressler, first creating sketches of puppet Hamish before building mockups and choosing materials. The material for Hamish’s skin, quills, and tuft of hair were all carefully considered, and I appreciated being included in every step of the process. It was so exciting to see each stage of fabrication come together, especially the thoughtful detail put into his training hat, “Made with Love” apron, and tiny red shoes! I couldn’t be happier with our puppet Hamish.
The next step is to bring this beautiful creation to life! The Puppet Kitchen team led an extensive casting process, and we’re excited to bring Emmy-award-winning puppeteer Heather Asch to the team to really make the lovable Kitchen Critter come alive. You can learn more about Heather and her career at www.heatherasch.com.
Thanks to the whole Puppet Kitchen team—Eric Wright, Olga Putilina, and Jamie Bressler—for making this dream come true!
Introducing puppet Hamish—I hope you love him as much as I do. Oh, those red sneakers!! Stay tuned to see Hamish in action, with exciting stuff to come! Enjoy this peek into the creation of Hamish and a look into the magic of The Puppet Kitchen—www.puppetkitchen.com.
Make Memories in the Kitchen,
P.J. Tierney