ACMI presents
Puppet Master: In Conversation With Dave Barclay
Tickets
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When
18 Nov 2026
7.15pm
Join Dave Barclay, a legend of on-screen puppetry, as he talks about his career and most famous creations.
Join us as for this in-conversation event as Dave shares stories from his career on screen and life in puppetry, exploring his artistic philosophy, process and vision for bringing a host of iconic characters to life. He will also share how evolving technology across the years has helped to shape practical on-screen puppetry and craft a world of lifelike creations.
Dave Barclay is a master puppeteer whose work has been on the cutting edge of animatronic puppetry. He has brought creations to life for over 40 years.
His career in puppetry was something of a family affair, with Dave being the second generation of professional puppeteers within the family.
Dave’s career began on The Empire Strikes Back, where he joined the Yoda build crew and was later selected by Frank Oz to fully operate the character. He went on to serve as chief puppeteer for Jabba the Hutt, and collaborated with Oz on Labyrinth, Dark Crystal and Little Shop of Horrors. Dave was chief puppeteer on Who Framed Roger Rabbit and an Academy Award finalist for Cats & Dogs with further credits including The Muppets and Stuart Little 2. He currently brings the Coyote to life in Coyote vs. Acme and is the author of My Life With Animatronics: Movies, Puppets and Beyond.
Dave Barclay
A second-generation puppeteer, Dave Barclay launched his film career with Lucasfilm on The Empire Strikes Back, joining the team that built the iconic Yoda puppet. When a member of Frank Oz’s puppeteering crew became ill, Dave stepped in, earning the trust of the legendary puppeteer and eventually operating Yoda during production.
His success on The Empire Strikes Back led to another iconic role as chief puppeteer for Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Dave has worked on beloved films including Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, The Muppets, and Where the Wild Things Are, cementing his reputation as a true legend of cinematic puppetry.
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