Martin JagoAnimatronics · Puppets · SFX

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures/Neal Street Productions
January - May 2013

Martin designed and built the mechanics of the squirrel costumes for Sam Mendes' stage production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Puppets Created by Robert Allsopp and Associates

Animatronics Model Designer

Mechanical design and construction of the articulated squirrel costume puppets during Veruca Salt's Chocolate Factory test.

Videos

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory poster

Behind the scenes

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  • Concept drawing by Mark Thompson of an Oompa Loompa in a blue uniform and cap riding a white squirrel, titled Nut Room

    Mark Thompson's Squirrel Designs

  • Pencil sketches on lined paper of a squirrel head and a parallelogram linkage, with dowel and bungee sizes noted beside each drawing

    Squirrel sketches

  • White foam squirrel costume prototype with a black eye and fabric body, fitted to a dark mannequin in a cluttered workshop

    Development

  • Water jet cut aluminium honeycomb plates and strips laid out on a workbench beside a wall of small parts drawers

    Water Jet Cut Components

  • Furred squirrel head mounted on an aluminium honeycomb neck mechanism with bungee cords and a brass handle, standing on a plywood stand

    Finished Head and Neck

  • Inside of a furred squirrel head showing aluminium honeycomb plates, white nylon spacers and a head torch lighting the mechanism

    Inside the Head

  • Finished grey squirrel head seen from the front with a black nose, whiskers, glass eye and brass rings holding leather straps

    Head- Front

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