In this engaging Zoom talk, Geoff Roberts shared his extensive experience building Morris beasts—costumed creatures used in dance and performance—with support from assistant Katie. The session, organised by the Morris Federation, combined practical advice, amusing anecdotes, and a detailed visual presentation. It covered multiple beast builds, focusing particularly on the creation of “Giddy,” a horse character from a children’s book co-authored by Geoff and Katie.

Geoff began by explaining how he came to build his first beast for a Morris trip to Bensheim, Germany. The original team beast, a metal-framed dragon, was too heavy to fly with, so he created a lightweight version using plastic fencing and plaster bandage. Though innovative, it was not well received by the team. This led to a second, improved dragon made with a plywood frame and wire mesh skin, covered in papier-mâché. Geoff described various construction tricks, such as using ice cream cartons for teeth, mop handles for poles, and googly eyes from joke shop glasses for a humorous effect.

The main focus of the talk was the creation of “Giddy.” The first prototype was overly heavy due to a solid wooden jaw structure. Learning from this, Geoff rebuilt the beast with a lighter design, replacing heavy dowels with angle brackets and screws to hinge the jaw. He used a combination of materials, including carved insulation foam (Kingspan) for shaping, a milk bottle for the nose, and a pole support made from a recycled fence post.

Eyes were crafted from polystyrene balls, fixed with cocktail sticks for adjustability, and an attempt was made to make movable pupils using Velcro. The ears were made from thin craft foam, folded and stapled, then attached with cable ties. The skin was formed using wire mesh secured to the frame and layered with papier-mâché and white paper to aid painting. A colourful mane was created from plaited and looped wool, and a tongue added from red craft foam. The beast’s skirt, made by Matt Day-Davis, featured mesh panels for visibility and painted panels to match the book illustration.

Geoff stressed the importance of keeping beasts lightweight for dancing. He offered insights into various materials and methods, including the merits of plaster bandage versus papier-mâché and how to create balance using angled poles. He also suggested possible ventilation holes and acknowledged how practical compromises—such as flexible ears—help with storage and wear.

Audience members asked about costs (estimated at £150–200), historical beast designs, and construction alternatives using lighter materials. The session closed with a showcase from Ginny, who displayed her own impressive collection of handcrafted beasts, including a rooster, hedgehog, and a Cthulhu-inspired creation.

The session was not only informative for would-be beast-makers but also a celebration of creativity, resourcefulness, and humour in Morris tradition. It concluded with thanks, applause, and speculation about Geoff’s next beast: a giant penguin for Rockhopper Morris.