Walking with Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs have always been a big part of my life. From cheap Chinese toys and old books of sluggish semi-aquatic brontosaurs, to ridiculous creationist tracts and the marvel of Dinotopia, to dinosaur mummies and the incredible work of pterodactyl specialist Mark Witton, I can not think of a time that I haven't been crazy about the prehistoric.

I've helped dig up bones, have been up and personal with fossils, and been entranced by mounted specimens.

But to get up and close with a real dinosaur is the true dream.

Well, a few weeks ago I got as close as I ever will without the use of a blue police box, when I went to see "Walking with Dinosaurs." Based on the BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs series, this show has been in development for years. From the first moment I saw the behind the scenes feature, I've longed to see this show.

There were hundreds of kids in the audience, who from the first moment the first dinosaurs came out, were on the edge of their seats, or hiding in fear. The kids loved this show, and were more than willing to see these terrible lizards again.

And all these multi-tonne creatures were being operated by a highly coordinated and skilled team of puppeteers.

I spoke with head puppeteer Raymond Carr during the intermission to find out what it's like to be the brains behind a dinosaur puppet.



That was Raymond Carr talking about dinosaurs.

After the interview, I had a backstage tour.

Standing in front of a herd of giants was like living out a scene from Burroughs or Gurney.

And having a raptors head on my shoulder was pure Jurassic Park.