David Haaz-Baroque is an amateur puppet maker and puppeteer from Oakland who performs with his creations under the name Shadow Circus Creature Theatre. His love of theatrical puppeteering has lead him on a unique artistic path, with shows throughout the Bay Area and beyond, including several guest appearances on the television show Creepy KOFY Movie Time, and yearly stage performances at the Edwardian Ball. David also produces several web shows, such as Sasquatch’s Down Home Rustic Christmas and The Shadow Circus Show, available via the Shadow Circus Facebook page.
Except for a brief period in his teens, David has been crafting puppets and doing puppet shows since age 8. All of his amazing puppets are produced in his kitchen, from the latex mold faces, to the sometimes elaborate costumes sewn or altered by him. David invited Make: into his home to chat with him about his artistic philosophy and document his process as he worked on a puppet of Matt Smith, the Eleventh Doctor from Doctor Who. Aside from this Doctor Who inspired human puppet, many of David’s other creations are dinosaurs, avian-like reptilian creatures, or other mythical beasts. Most of his puppets are fully realized original characters, some of whom, like Hatchet the Velociraptor, have been around for many years and through many iterations.
Check out the slideshow to view the completed Matt Smith puppet, as well as some of David’s other puppet creations, including Hatchet the Velociraptor, and Sassy and Nessie, the hipster Sasquatch and Loch Ness Monster. Then catch David appearing live with the Eleventh Doctor and his puppet companion in A Night With The Doctor!, a Doctor Who art show and performance happening this Saturday in San Francisco.
ADVERTISEMENT
Join Make: Community Today
