Kay Yasugi

Puppeteer, Puppet Maker & Teaching Artist

info@pupperoos.com | pupperoos.com | YouTube: @pupperoos1 | Instagram: @pupperoos.puppets @kay_yasugi

About

Sydney-based puppeteer, puppet maker, and teaching artist with over 20 years of experience creating puppets for theatre, film, education, and community arts. Specialising in work for young audiences and multicultural storytelling, with credits spanning Australia and internationally — including work with Canva, ABC iView, Monkey Baa Theatre Company, and the Sydney Opera House.

General Secretary and Councillor of UNIMA Australia, the official puppetry organisation of Australia, and Secretary of the UNIMA Asia-Pacific Commission — connecting puppetry practitioners and building community across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Selected Experience

Momentum Energy Commercial (2026) — Puppet Maker & Puppeteer Produced by Photoplay. Created and performed puppets for the Momentum Energy commercial campaign.

CommBank x Clown Doctors Australia (2026) — Puppet Maker Commissioned to create doctor sock puppets handcrafted from campaign socks to support the Clown Doctors Australia fundraising drive.

Where is the Green Sheep? (2025–26) — Puppet Maker Produced by Monkey Baa Theatre Company. Premiered at Out of the Box Festival (Brisbane), season at Sydney Opera House (2025), national tour 2026.

Jack Ladder — 'Undignified' Music Video(2025) — Puppet Maker & Puppeteer Created and performed a marionette for the official music video for Jack Ladder's 'Undignified', from his album Separation Rock. Directed by Derek Henderson, produced by Wildfire.

The Vegetable Plot(2022–present) — Puppeteer, Performer & Voice Artist Core member of award-winning children's music group, performing as Avo Kaydo. Winners of the 2025 Australian Children's Music Awards (Album of the Year & Song of the Year), Sydney Fringe Kids Winner, and ARIA nominees. Voice of 'Egg' in The Vegetable Plot animated series, premiering on YouTube May 2026.

Canva Holiday Magic Campaign (2024) — Puppet Maker & Performer Created puppets and performed for a festive digital campaign.

Fluffy the Therapy Dog — 'Stray' Project (2024) — Puppet Maker Commissioned by Arts Out West as part of their Art Snacks Aged Care Arts Program. Created Fluffy the Therapy Dog to bring comfort and connection to aged care residents in rural NSW through the emotional power of puppetry.

XP Film Series(2024) — Puppet Maker & Puppeteer Created and performed marionettes on location in Adelaide, SA for this film series helping young Australians explore life and faith.

Haenyeo: Women of the Sea (2019–23) — Creator & Performer Original work co-created with Youngkyu Kwon, inspired by research into Haenyeo women divers in Jeju Island, South Korea (funded by the SB&W Foundation). Premiered at Figura Offida Festival, Italy (2019). Performed at Melbourne Festival of Puppetry and Culture Mix Multicultural Festival, Wollongong (2023).

ABC iView Campaign (2021) — Puppeteer & Puppet Maker Created and performed puppets for TV, online, and outdoor media campaigns across Australia.

Sydney Opera House Creative Leadership in Learning Program (2020, 2022) — Teaching Artist Spooky Airport project

Schools Spectacular (2017) — Puppet Maker Created dragon puppets for the annual NSW Department of Education showcase at Qudos Bank Arena.

ABC Play School (2014) — Puppeteer Featured in the "Through the Windows" segment for the 'Making Puppets' episodes.

The 13-Storey Treehouse(2013–15) — Puppeteer, Puppet Maker & Creative Development Produced by CDP Theatre Producers. Created puppets and performed at the Sydney Opera House, Seymour Centre, and Chatswood Concourse. Creative development for The 26-Storey Treehouse (2014) and The 52-Storey Treehouse (2015).

War Horse Australia Arts Learning Programme (2013) — Workshop Facilitator Facilitated 'Creating Puppets for Plays' workshops for the National Youth Theatre Company (Sydney), Australian Theatre for Young People (Sydney), and Griffith University (Brisbane).

Korean Cultural Centre Collaboration — Writer of Adapted Korean folktales read aloud by The Wiggles online in partnership with the Korean Cultural Centre Australia.

The Amazing House (2011–12) — Puppeteer & Production Assistant Operated lip-sync puppet character 'Benji' and created props for the children's television series.

School & Community Production Puppets

Kay has made custom puppets for numerous school and community productions, including:

Into the Woods
The Lion King Jr
Finding Nemo Jr
Little Mermaid Jr
Beauty and the Beast
The Wizard of Oz
Dragon Puppets — Schools Spectacular (2017), Qudos Bank Arena

Available for school production puppet commissions — get in touch to discuss your project.

Teaching & Education Work

Primary School Teacher — NSW Department of Education (2008–present). Specialist in EAL/D (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) and the use of puppetry as a teaching tool, supporting students across a range of educational settings including hospital schools.

Guest Lecturer — University of Sydney (2014–present) Delivers lectures and workshops to Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Master of Teaching (MTeach) students on the use of puppetry in EAL/D teaching and classroom practice. A long-standing relationship with the Faculty of Education spanning over a decade.

Guest Lecturer — University of Technology Sydney Talks and workshops on puppetry for language learning and education.

International Festival Participation

Education & Training

Diploma in Professional Puppetry — London School of Puppetry, UK (2009)

Bachelor of Education (Primary), First Class Honours & University Medal — University of Sydney (2007)

Awards & Grants

Seaborn, Broughton & Walford (SB&W) Foundation Grant for Individual Performing Artists (2018)

Leadership & Community

General Secretary & Councillor — UNIMA Australia (current) Secretary — UNIMA Asia-Pacific Commission (current)

Skills