That role required Rebekah to fly above the stage in a bubble, and this production is just as, if not more, demanding physically, she says.
"Puppeteering is surprisingly physical, and I really enjoy the specificity of puppetry. When I started at Whoa (Rebekah was a resident puppeteer at Auckland's Whoa! Studios between 2017 and 2019) I thought, oh yes, this is something I can do, but there is so much to learn and know, it really is a specific skill."
Edwin says while all actors are taught about the importance of warming up before a performance, puppetry leaves no room for slacking.
"At drama school, there is a real emphasis on warming up, but the reality is not all actors always do it before every show perhaps, in puppeteering, however, you just can't afford that complacency."
With multiple puppets on stage in The Lost Sock, Edwin and Rebekah are often changing between the individual character voices and actions.
"Sometimes we are cueing ourselves," says Rebekah, as one character operated by a puppeteer is replying to another character operated by the same puppeteer.
The storyline of the show follows the adventures of Jo, a lovable blue sock, as they go on a quest to find their missing best friend, Wizz.
Edwin says Jo and Wizz's names are deliberately non-gendered.
"It's all about accessibility. So any actor can play them, it doesn't have to be a specific voice or gender. Also, this way all children can see themselves as the hero of the story and relate to Jo and Wizz."
Part of the magic of puppets is that the audience uses their own imagination, says Edwin, making each person's experience of the show unique.
The plot is based on an original story by Charlotte Thomas and has been adapted by Tusk Puppets and Andy Manning. Edwin says there are a lot of themes in the story that will resonate with a young audience.
"It's about resilience, learning to cope with change, and also about friendship."
What it isn't, he says, is a fairytale.
"I really love the originality of this show. I think a lot of children's shows tend to be the same storyline really, there is a prince or a princess, those shows are fun, but it's good to have something different."
It's relatable too, says Rebekah.
"I think everyone has lost a sock at some time."
The show was devised during lockdown, and that is reflected in some of the lyrics of the songs written by Andy and herself, she says.
"There's one part, where the lyrics are about just staying safe, just stay home, and you think, oh yes, I wonder what was happening when this was written."
Edwin says Martin joining the cast for the New Plymouth shows was a perfect choice.
"He fits the pyjamas, literally and figuratively speaking."
While the show is recommended for tamariki aged 5 - 9, people of all ages will find something to relate to and laugh at in the show, says Rebekah. An adults-only version of the show is also playing on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
The details:
What: Tusk Puppets presents The Lost Sock
Where: The 4th Wall Theatre, New Plymouth
When: Saturday, January 29 and Sunday, January 30. 10.30am and 12.30pm each day.
Adults-only version: Saturday, January 29 and Sunday, January 30, 7.30pm
Tickets: Available online: www.nz.patronbase.com/_4thWallTheatre/Productions
WIN: See the interview with Jo, the puppet star of the show, in this week's children's pages for your chance to win a double pass to see the children's version of The Lost Sock.
