Here at Muppet Madness, we are always tracking down the next great piece of Muppet history. Later this year, from September 12, 2026 to April 18, 2027, the Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in Brisbane, Australia, is hosting “Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company.” Whether you’re a casual fan of Sesame Street or a die-hard Dark Crystal historian, this retrospective is shaping up to be a monumental celebration of puppetry and practical effects. Here is a breakdown of why this exhibition is making waves across the fandom.
Stepping Into Fraggle Rock
One of the most highly anticipated highlights is the inclusion of the actual Great Hall set from the Emmy-winning Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock.
- Immersive Scale: It’s one thing to watch the Fraggles on screen, but experiencing the physical scale of the Great Hall set offers a completely new perspective on how the world was built.
- Modern vs. Classic: The exhibit provides a brilliant timeline of how the characters and their environments have been updated from the 1980s originals to the current high-definition streaming era.
A Designer’s Dream: From Sketch to Screen
For anyone who loves the visual arts, the exhibition promises an incredible look at the physical craftsmanship behind the magic.
- The Evolution of Materials: Seeing the transition from early 2D pencil sketches into fully realized 3D characters made of foam, fleece, and latex is incredibly inspiring.
- Animatronic Engineering: The Creature Shop’s groundbreaking work will be on full display, highlighting the complex internal mechanics that gave life to the creatures in Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. It’s a rare chance to study the meticulous design work that paved the way for modern practical effects.
Celebrating the Australian Connection
It’s fitting that this massive retrospective is taking place in Australia, given the Creature Shop’s history there. The exhibition will heavily feature behind-the-scenes looks at projects filmed locally:
- Farscape: The beloved sci-fi series filmed in Sydney, showcasing some of the most ambitious television creature designs of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
- The Portable Door (2023): Shot right in Brisbane, proving that the Jim Henson Company’s ties to Australian filmmaking are still going strong.
What’s Next for the Site?
The sheer volume of art and history heading to Brisbane has us feeling inspired. To celebrate, Feltzer is currently demanding that we start developing a digital, retro-style mini-game for Muppet Madness so fans can navigate a virtual Creature Shop of their own. (We’re still trying to explain to him how long the coding for that will take, but you know how he gets).
If you’re lucky enough to make the trip out to Brisbane this September, be sure to take plenty of photos for the rest of us!