Isobel Shuttlewood

My work is based on the opera The Magic Flute. I elected to make the Serpent from the opening scene- to do this, I made two puppets; one shadow puppet of the full-bodied creature, and one large scale stage puppet of the serpent’s head and upper body designed to be directly interacted with onstage. The Serpent’s design takes inspiration from both mythology and nature, with the intention being to make a fluid, ethereal-looking creature that commands a powerful presence. My work uses a range of materials from foam to fabric, to wood, blending a broad variety of methods and techniques to achieve the most realistic and impactful look.