My name is Naomi Guss, and I am a puppet maker and designer in Melbourne, Australia. My main interest in puppetry is to design and build the puppets; not so much performing with them. (I’m not a performer, please don’t contact me about performing in your show or for a party) I also focus on puppetry for adults, which can also be enjoyed by children. While I applaud children’s puppetry, we need more stuff for adult audiences (which isn’t burlesque or R-rated). I do not make toys; I make puppets to be used on a professional level in the theatre.

My alternate website, School of Puppetry, both allows me to discuss puppetry in general, offer information on how to work with puppets; offer news and updates on the Australian puppetry industry; and provide products for those seeking puppets in Australia. I believe I’m one of the only Australian puppet makers who provides an online service with original Australian products, and am one of the few who discuss the local industry on a regular basis.

I do have an online shop where you can purchase puppets, patterns, or puppet parts. (I do not have a physical store and at this time make to order, and do not stock items) You can find more information about my latest projects on my blog. 

I graduated in 2002 from Swinburne University’s theatre course. There I met my two company partners, and made lots of friends. My company, Sticky Apple Legs, debuted in 2003 with a performance that used more than 30 self-made puppets. We have since produced a new show for 2007 (much of which you can read about here). I am a member of the Aussie branch of UNIMA, the international organisation for puppeteers, and as of mid-2009 I am their web administrator. I also received the Lorrie Gardner UNIMA scholarship for 2009, a grant which is given to promote skill growth and development of puppeteers; I put it towards attending the 2009 National Puppetry Festival in Atlanta, Georgia (USA), which you can read about here.

You can find me at sites like Puppets and Stuff and Puppet Hub. I’m also a member of Puppeteers of America.

Since graduating I have worked with various Melbourne-based theatre companies, groups and festivals, mainly as a theatre technician. At some point or another, I have done every role you could possibly do in theatre. I have worked with the likes of: Arena Theatre Company, Red Stitch Actors Company, NICA, Swinburne Uni, Fortyfivedownstairs, Double Pump Producement, the 2004 Melbourne Fringe Festival, La Mama, and many others. Throughout 2002 to 2006 I ran a not-for-profit online theatre publication, The Prompt Copy. In 2004, I was the only non-Korean volunteer to participate in the Chuncheon Puppet Festival in Chuncheon, South Korea. I worked for Arts Hub from 2005 to 2006. In early 2008, I went to the international puppet conference in Perth, which you can read about here.

Most of my puppetry skills are self taught, although I credit a lot of learning to:

• My dear friend Jeany (Hye Jean Lee) and fellow SAL founder
• Ken Evans, the puppetry lecturer at Swinburne while I attended
• Masterclasses with Richard Bradshaw, Nori Sawa, Neville Tranter, Gary Friedman and Sue Giles
• All the great people at Puppets and Stuff

For the first time in 2007, I designed and built puppets by myself for our Sticky Apple Legs show, City Head, some of which were used for a corporate video. In December of 2008, I worked with Reach Out Mental Health in offering a puppet building workshop to their clients as well as a series of workshops in April 2009.

I am currently undertaking a range of puppetry-related projects… If you’d like a copy of my CV please contact me and I’ll forward one to you.