Help make a giant puppet for Batley Festival during free workshop

Now artist Molly Hawkins has been commissioned to produce one for our town, which will be part of the entertainment at Batley Festival.

Miss Hawkins’ gigantic puppet, which will be inspired by the textile and shoddy industries, will roam the streets throughout the event.

The artist has been inviting people to stop by to help her create the super-sized puppet during workshops in the Corner Café in Batley this week.

“It will be a lady, twice the size of a human and operated by three people,” she said.

“It will be beckoning people around the festival so there will be lots of interaction.”

The Liverpool-based artist will be embracing the shoddy trade by encouraging visitors to bring scraps of old material, clothing and rags to be incorporated into the puppet.

Miss Hawkins, who graduated from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 2013, has made puppets for The Secret Garden Party, Green Man, Parklife and Glastonbury Festival.

“I made a huge reggae lion for when Snoop Dogg was performing at Parklife in Manchester,” she said.

“My parents were puppeteers so I have grown up with them since I was a child.

“They are really fun to make and always get a great reaction from the crowds.”

The free session will take place at the Corner Café every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday until the festival, 10am-2pm.

The festival takes place on Saturday September 27, 11am-4pm.