“These are twice life-size...so, including the body, they’re about 12ft!” Dialing in via Zoom from his studio in London, Toby Olié has pulled the disembodied head of Pinocchio’s father, Geppetto, from a set of shelves teeming with curious creatures. A jewel-green, spindly-legged cricket, and an inquisitive bird with sapphire plumage are just two of the many puppets peering down, longing to be picked up and given a pulse. Toby is a serious name in this world; as a Puppetry Director and Designer, Toby’s rich catalogue of work in the theatre includes War Horse, Pinocchio, A Monster Calls, Little Shop of Horrors, and many more. In the midst of developing two new projects, Toby sat down with smART Magazine to discuss his process, the changing face of live artistry, the pivotal role of playfulness on stage, and the need for puppet-makers to be as flexible as their subjects in order for the art form to survive.