Gretchen

Maynard-Hahn

visual theatre designer/illustrator/craftsperson

Theatre Design

'ODDLY'

Designer/Maker/ Performer

Oddly was produced by Norwich Puppet Theatre and toured across the UK

2015 - 2016

'Ptrerry'

Co-designer/Maker

A Ptyradactyl puppet constructed for 'Fever Dream' Performed at Citizens Theatre, Glasgow.

2015

'The Scorpion'

Maker/Performer

A short puppet film produced by Norwich Puppet Theatre in collaboration with The Roald Dahl Story Company

2020

'Moominland Midwinter'

Assistant Maker

Produced by Horse and Bamboo Theatre and Egg Theatre Bath

2013

'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe'

Assistant Maker

West Yorkshire Playhouse

2017

'Beastly Belle'

Co-Designer/Maker

Norwich Puppet Theatre

2014

'Hansel and Gretel'

Witch's House Designer/Maker

Horse and Bamboo Theatre

2017

'Waterworks'

Designer/Maker

Horse and Bamboo Theatre

2016

'Belly of the Beast'

Designer/Maker/Performer

Theatre for One

2017

Puppet Maintenance

Reskinning Joey's head and body.

Color matching and painting horse

hair for all horses.

'War Horse'

Puppet Department Deputy Head

2018-2019

Puppet Department Head

2019-2020

Rebuilding a horse shin.

Attending Baby Joey on a press call.

Repairing a split

Goose head.

Refeathering, repainting and

restringing a Zazu puppet.

Repairing and repainting the foam

sculpt of the Pumba puppet.

'Lion King'

Puppet Technician

2021-2022

Refurbishing and repainting a Cheetah head.

Refurbishing, repairing

and repainting

Lioness headpieces.

Refurbishing, reapairing and repainting Bird Lady headpieces.

Refurbishing and refeathering

the Birdman costume.

Refurbishing, repairing and repainting Hyena heads.

Painting and assembling Lioness statuette.

Unboxing the Totoro puppets with the Jim Henson team.

'My Neighbour Totoro'

Puppet Department Head

2022-2023

The Catbus puppet internal mechanisms.

Hand tied Totoro fur.

Title Sequence screen with strung letters for puppeteering.

Additional puppets used in the performance.

'Life of Pi'

Puppet Technician/ASM DEP

2022

Reviews

A large scale reproduction that was made based on my puppet designs for 'Oddly'..

About

Gretchen Maynard-Hahn is a freelance artist, visual theatre designer, illustrator, educator and puppet builder. She derives inspiration for her work from nature, folk stories, contemporary art and traditional crafts. Originally hailing from Montana where she studied sculpture, she travelled to Germany to learn wood, textile and metalworking techniques and then to Prague to take courses on puppet building and manipulation. She moved to the UK eleven years ago to work on multiple projects with Norwich Puppet Theatre and Horse and Bamboo Theatre. Since then she has worked on many productions including War Horse, Lion King, Life of Pi and most recently headed the Puppet Department for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s My Neighbour Totoro.

If you have a project or workshop you'd like to discuss please get in touch.

Curriculum

Vitae

2022 – 2023

Puppet Department Head – ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ – Royal Shakespeare Company

2021 – 2022

Puppet Technician– Lion King UK and Ireland Tour – Walt Disney Theatre Productions

Puppet Technician/Assistant Stage Manager DEP– ‘Life of Pi’ – Lolita Chakrabarti and Max Webster

2018 – 2020

Puppet Department Head – War Horse International Tour 2019-2020 – National Theatre

Puppet Department Deputy Head – War Horse International Tour 2018-2019 – National Theatre

2018

Co-Designer, Maker – 'The Moonwatcher' – Horse and Bamboo Theatre

2017

Designer, Maker, Performer – 'Run River Run' – Horse and Bamboo Theatre

Designer, Maker, Performer – ' Theatre Ballads' – Horse and Bamboo Theatre

Designer, Maker – 'Babies Overboard' – Horse and Bamboo Theatre

Lead Artist , Tour Manager, Performer - 'Theatre for One Residency and tour – Horse and Bamboo Theatre

Assistant Maker - 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' - West Yorkshire Playhouse

2016

Co-Designer, Maker – 'Hansel and Gretel' – Horse and Bamboo Theatre

Co-Designer, Maker – 'Leaf'' – TamTam Theatre - London

Performer– 'Rumpelstiltskin' – Norwich Puppet Theatre

2015

Maker– 'Pterry' built for a production of 'Fever Dream' – The Citizens' Theatre – Glasgow

Designer, Maker, Performer – 'Oddly' – Norwich Puppet Theatre

2014

Maker, Stage Manager – 'The Frog and Princess' – Norwich Puppet Theatre

Maker- 'Hansel and Gretel' – Horse and Bamboo Theatre

Maker, Performer, Deputy Stage Manager - ' Beastly Belle' – Norwich Puppet Theatre

2013

Maker– 'Baby Boo: Little Boxes' – Horse and Bamboo

Maker– 'Moominland Midwinter' – Horse and Bamboo Theatre and The Egg Theatre

Maker, Technical support - ' The Steadfast Tin Soldier' – Norwich Puppet Theatre