The Science of Puppetry – How Real Can They Be?

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A young boy and a lookalike puppet sit side-by-side at a table wearing matching thick-rimmed glasses, bow ties, and elaborate, wire-covered colanders as "thought-reading" helmets connected to a vintage dial meter

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Event information

Date: Tuesday, 13 Oct 2026

Time: 18:00

Type: Lecture

Location: Holborn

Venue: Barnard's Inn Hall

Topics: Science Film Psychology Society Culture

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In this joint lecture, Gresham Professor of Physic Robin May and world-renowned puppet creator Steve Allen (Labyrinth, The Muppets, Fraggle Rock) discuss the science that goes in to bringing puppets to life, what our interactions with puppets mean for our understanding of human emotions, and how we may be able to use puppets to help tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Professor Robin May

Gresham Professor of Physic

Professor of Infectious Disease at the University of Birmingham, and (interim) Chief Scientist at the UK Health Security Agency, Robin May was appointed Gresham Professor...

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Steve Allen

Steve Allen is a highly experienced and versatile model maker in the creative industry with over four decades of work spanning film, television, theatre, merchandise...

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