Woander World

Recently I’ve been working with my long-time friend and sometimes collaborator, Matthew Purdon, on his amazing Wylding Woods Project. The Wylding Woods is an immersive adventure for kids and families, produced by Matthew’s company, Woander World LLC. The Woander Store is in Mill Valley.

Step inside a storybook adventure

The Wylding Woods is an immersive outdoor theatre experience from Mill Valley’s Woander World. More than a show, The Wylding Woods blends puppetry, kids’ creativity and play as children and their families become the heroes of a magical quest through the redwoods. The production is explicitly designed for families with children aged 3 to 10.

Given a mission by the storybook fairy Lexivandrielle, adventurers set out to awaken the ancient spirit Greenheart, finding clues, casting spells, and helping magical fairy-tale creatures. The experience is set in an enchanted forest world where the trees, animals, and mystical creatures talk directly to the audience.

The Wylding Woods Show:

“Our live experience invites children to become an integral part of the story where their actions drive the adventure forward,” says Director and Writer Matthew Purdon. “In today’s screen-saturated world, this is a rare opportunity for kids to not just consume but co-create a fairy tale together surrounded by natural beauty.”

Purdon, a trained actor, artist, and technology designer, was the co-founder of Odyssey Works, an early pioneer in transformative immersive experiences. He first dreamed up The Wylding Woods on walks through the redwoods of Sea Ranch with his children where his family owns a home. He then further developed it through workshops and playtests with Bay Area families, culminating in a sold-out run of the show last October in Mill Valley.

Matthew Purdon at the Woander Store:

The Puppeteer Ensemble includes many members of the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild: Esther deMonteflore (The Monkey King, SF Opera) Gabrielle Greenfield (Radio Disney, Children’s Fairyland), Fred Riley (The Monkey King, SF Opera), Uel McGinnis (Puppet Show at the End of Time) and Lisa Zagone. Additional performers include Bay Area actors Eriette Atanante (Play Theatre, Rabbit Hole Theatre), Caitlin Gjerdrum (Palo Alto Players, Bread & Puppet Theatre). Original costumes by Aurie Stetzel. Puppets by Charlie Orchard, Hobey Ford, Images In Motion and Puppet Kitchen.

At the time of writing, there are currently two production formats:

Full-Cast Outdoor Experience: A large-scale immersive show held in the natural redwoods of Mill Valley. It starts inside the Woander retail store before spilling out into nature.
Touring Show: A mobile interactive puppet production designed for local libraries, community venues, and art centers.

Character Design Process

Matthew’s family grew up with my board game “Legitimacy” and puzzle books such as “Wizard Pickles”. He had well-conceived ideas for the personalities of the characters in the show, and wanted me to develop them in my own visual style. My designs were then taken by the puppet builders, and I was amazed at how well they managed to capture my designs, and then the performers magically bring them to life. Amazing! Matthew has been growing this business fast, so hopefully I’ll have more to share with you soon!

Lexi the Storybook Fairy

Lexivandrielle the Storybook Fairy is a keeper of all the world’s fairy stories. Participants are recruited by Lexi to complete a magical mission, such as awakening an ancient forest spirit named Greenheart.

She lives in the Story Stump, which forms a gateway between our world and the world of the Wylding Woods. I wanted the Story Stump to look like a nice place to hang out and read a book, imagining how it might one day appear for real in a Woander Store, with Lexi to greet you and invite you inside to the immersive experience beyond.

In the Wylding Woods experience, Lexi appears as a human in costume, brought to life from her augmented reality form that first appears in a magic mirror. It’s incredible how well the 3D model designers followed my drawing. For quick costume changes, I envisioned that performers could wear the whole hat, wig, ears, glasses & antennae get-up as a single headpiece. The idea of having the writing all over her dress was part of Matthew’s original concept for her.

Lexi Appears in the Magic Mirror:

Barnaby the Troll Boy

Young Barnaby the Troll is a central character in the Wylding Woods story. A mischievous boy who got lost in the woods, he is a character that the young audience can relate to and communicate with directly. Perfectly realized from my drawings by Eric Wright and his team at Puppet Kitchen in New York.

Puppet-maker Eric Wright unboxing and demonstrating the Barnaby puppet for the first time in the unfinished Woander Store.

Agnor the Dragon

Agnor the dragon is an incredible puppet, built from my drawing by Charlie Orchard in the UK, who specializes in such things. Agnor is the old wise lady of the forest. Appearing slightly scary at first, she

Puppet maker Charlie Orchard demonstrates her creation:

Neebling

One of three cheeky elfin brothers, who cause many problems for visitors to the Wylding Woods.

Drax the Cloud Giant

The largest puppet in the Wylding Woods so far.

Captain Jentree the Unicorn

Captain Jentree is a leader and guardian of the Wylding Woods. I had no idea how the puppet would be made, but the solution from designer Eric Wright and his team at Puppet Kitchen in New York is very elegant.

Greenheart, Freeda, Friendor, & Sienna Sky

Greenheart is the great talking tree who sleeps at the heart of the Wylding Woods. I had the idea that maybe the puppet could be a face that hangs on a tree, but again Eric Wright and his team at Puppet Kitchen did a fantastic job at making this effect work.

Freeda, Friendor, & Sienna Sky are forest spirits, to guide you on your journey through the Wylding Woods. Freeda is played by a human actor, and Friendor exists in augmented reality. Sienna Sky is small, intricate puppet with very delicate movements.