Waikereru Eco Sanctuary

MAYFLY AND KERERU | Waikereru Eco Sanctuary, New Zealand

Costume maker & designer : Brighde Penn | Puppet, mask maker and costume assistant: Ruby Gibbens

For this project, Brighde Penn and Ruby Gibbens collaborated to create the costume characters of the Mayfly and Kereru, a New Zealand Wood pigeon. These costumes are currently being worn by members of the Waikereru Eco Sanctuary to educate children about nature and New Zealand's native species. Given the remote location of the sanctuary, situated near the Waikereru Eco Sanctuary in New Zealand, Brighde Penn and Ruby Gibbens had to employ resourcefulness in their material selection. They harvested clay from the riverbed for sculpting purposes and adapted a tea strainer for a wing mechanism.

RUBY GIBBENS

A puppets first breath, an audience captivated, the puppeteer fades.

It is a magician’s art form, tricking the audience into forgetting reality and allowing themselves to invest into the narrative of the puppet. This fragile being, kept alive by the puppeteer, can tell stories that are complex, beautiful and funny.

At RWCMD I began my journey; learning costume, woodwork, mould making and mechanisms. I explore these specialisms with the simple intention of making something that is soulful.

I draw from the world of the fantastical and enjoy simple and bizarre tales. Folklore passed by word of mouth and stories not quite forgotten.

Waikereru Eco Sanctuary

RUBY GIBBENS

PORTFOLIO | ABOUT | CV | CONTACT

RUBY GIBBENS

+44 (0) 7966 152 894

rubygibbenspuppetry@outlook.com