Puppeteer Emma Boor tells KATHERINE MACALISTER why she’s the perfect person to take on the role of Winnie the Witch

Emma Boor is super nice with boundless energy and enthusiasm, making her perfect for the much coveted part of Winnie The Witch this weekend at Pegasus.

The 36-year-old puppeteer also wrote the script for the children’s piece with the blessing of Korky Paul and Oxford University Press, as part of Pegasus’ 50th birthday celebrations and Winnie the Witch’s 25th anniversary.

“There was so much I wanted to put in it and five drafts later, after lots of late nights, endless lattes and packets of biscuits we got it. It was an amazing opportunity for me because WInnie The Witch has got so many juicy characters in it and really got my imagination going, so it’s a bit bonkers with bits on the moon and under the sea, while staying true to the books. But the main crux of the story is that it’s Wilbur’s birthday and Winnie is trying to make him a magic cake as a surprise.”

Sounds great, and yet children are still a notoriously difficult audience, something that doesn’t remotely phase Emma: “There is so much going on in this show it’s riotous – music, dancing, silliness, puppets. It’s constantly changing so we won’t lose their attention and every child will take something away with them.”

So what’s her secret? “Well my Winnie really appreciates the magic of the world plus a cup of tea and a cream bun. She’s a cross between a witch and a clown really, so you can really use your imagination with different habitats and characters, while staying faithful to the books,” she tells me. As for the costumes, Emma says its all stripey tights and hats, with leggings for Wilbur.

Emma has had a similarly magic ride over the past few years, moving to Oxford several years ago after meeting the love-of-her-life and now husband on match.com. She gave up her job as a puppeteer up north to venture into unknown Oxfordshire, and start again, but soon hooked up with famous illustrator Korky Paul who inspired her no end. “I’m essentially a puppeteer and actress so it’s really satisfying to sink my teeth into this piece of theatre and to be able to touch the magic. It’s an amazing opportunity for me.”

Maybe, because of all her hard work, Emma’s got a cold at the moment which she says makes her voice a bit shrieky: “which is perfect for Winnie, and she’s meant to look a bit haggard, anyway, so having a two-year-old who doesn’t sleep helps with that no end,” she laughs cheerfully.

What of the children in the audience who tend to get a bit scared? “It’s not scary at all,” she says, “my son is a human guinea pig, so although I’m a rubbish housewife, we do have 14 puppet shows on the go in our living room at the moment so I can try things out at home. In fact, this is the perfect way of introducing children to theatre.”

  • Winnie The Witch is at Pegasus, Magdalen Road, Oxford from today until Sunday.
  • See pegasustheatre.org.uk/shows/winnie-the-witch or call 01865
    812150.