ELON MASK'S LABORATORY
I’m Phil, a mask‑maker, musician, and solo theatre performer based in East Kent. Over the past few years I’ve developed a distinctive style of performance that blends hyper‑realistic handmade masks, live music, dark humour, and surreal storytelling. Each mask is crafted using my own techniques with foam clay, acrylics, and clear eye‑baubles that allow the performer to maintain real eye contact while appearing entirely otherworldly. My shows weave together a cast of uncanny characters — from East Anglian storytellers and Balkan sax‑playing showmen to alien pipers, pirates, jesters, and poets — each brought to life through music, movement, and voice. I’ve performed intimate woodland shows, created both adult and children’s versions of my work, and continue to explore how masks, myth, and modern identity collide on stage. I’m currently developing a touring package for theatres, schools, festivals, and rural venues across the South East.
ABOUT ME!
This short film captures the process behind my handmade theatrical masks, built from lightweight foam clay, cardboard armatures, acrylic paint and natural wool fibres. Each mask begins as a sculpted clay form, gradually refined with texture and detail before being painted in layered washes to create lifelike skin tones and depth. The beards and brows are needle‑felted from wool, giving every character its own expressive texture. The final touch is my signature eye technique, using clear acrylic baubles painted from within so the performer can see out while the mask maintains its unblinking stare. This video offers a glimpse into the craft, patience and imagination that bring each character to life on stage
This three‑minute taster plunges you into the strange, playful and uncanny world of Phil’s mask theatre. Meet Henry Fuller, the woolly‑eyed East Anglian storyteller; Spike the sharp‑tongued jester with his puppet twin; the Papylonian Babooshkee, a sax‑playing showman from a mythical land; Peter Todd, the demonic poet with his hypnotic stream‑of‑consciousness verse; the mysterious snake‑eyed piper who moves like a creature from another realm; and Jay Peg the melodian‑playing pirate. Intercut with close‑ups of the handmade masks and their unblinking stares, this reel offers a glimpse of the music, humour and surreal characters that shape Phil’s live performances.
The Papylonian Babooshkee is a travelling gypsy minstrel from the mythic land of Papylonia, proud ambassador of the wandering Babooshkee tribe. With his bowler hat, fierce moustache and wide‑eyed intensity, he bursts onto the stage playing a whirlwind of exotic, Balkan‑inspired melodies on the tenor saxophone. His broken, cryptic English — full of misplaced idioms, cultural mix‑ups and earnest enthusiasm — creates a warm, comedic charm as he introduces the music and traditions of his homeland. Part showman, part storyteller, part musical firecracker, the Babooshkee brings a rousing, high‑energy finale to the show, inviting the audience into the joyful chaos of Papylonian celebration
This short film is part of an ongoing collaboration with local filmmaker Martin Goodsmith, exploring my masked characters in atmospheric, on‑location settings. The piece features several masks from an earlier generation of my work, captured in a more cinematic style that reveals their textures, presence and strangeness in the landscape. This project marks the beginning of a wider series we’ll be developing throughout the summer, bringing the new generation of masks — including the Papylonian Babooshkee, the snake‑eyed Piper, Spike the Riddler and others — into similarly filmic environments as we continue to expand this visual world.
These images were taken during a festival performance last year in front of a large live audience. They offer a glimpse of the atmosphere, scale and energy of the work in a real performance setting. My most recent shows have taken place in venues where filming wasn’t possible, but I’m currently arranging new opportunities to capture the latest characters — including Henry Kipper, the Papylonian Babooshkee, Spike the Riddler and the snake‑eyed Piper — in front of consenting audiences over the coming months. As the project continues to grow, more up‑to‑date performance footage and photography will be added here.
Phil — Mask‑Maker, Solo Theatre Performer & Multi‑Instrumentalist
Based in Canterbury / East Kent, UK
Artist Statement
I create original solo theatre that blends hyper‑realistic mask work, live music, dark humour, and character‑driven storytelling. My performances explore the uncanny, the vulnerable, and the mythic, using masks I design and build myself. I also develop participatory workshops in mask‑making and performance, drawing on years of experience delivering creative sessions in schools, community groups, and arts organisations.
Performance Work
Solo Masked Theatre (2024–present)
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Creator and performer of a modular solo show combining original characters, live saxophone, melodian, flutes, spoken word, and poetic monologue
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Performed to audiences of ~50 at a woodland performance space, using firelight and natural settings to heighten atmosphere
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Characters developed through ongoing one‑minute monologue sketches on Instagram (10.5k+ followers)
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Themes include dystopian poetry, folklore, absurdism, and the tension between human and mask
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Currently developing an adaptable version for adult audiences, festivals, and educational settings
Previous Performance Experience
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Over 300 workshops and performances delivered through organisations including Live Music Now, Superact!, and Wildest Dreams
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Extensive experience performing in schools, community venues, outdoor spaces, and non‑traditional environments
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Background in composition, lyric writing, ensemble arrangement, and multi‑instrumental performance
Mask‑Making Practice
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Creator of 30–40 hyper‑realistic masks using foam clay, cardboard, acrylic paint, and natural wool fibre
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Developed a unique technique using clear acrylic baubles to create see‑through eyes that maintain performer eye contact while appearing as mask eyes
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Known for detailed paintwork, needle‑felted beards, and an unsettling, lifelike aesthetic
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Masks used in performance, photography, and character development
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Currently building a digital portfolio and exploring future sales, commissions, and exhibitions
Workshops & Education
(Workshops currently in development — available for discussion with venues)
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Mask‑Making Workshops: exploring design, sculpting, painting, and character creation
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Performance Workshops: character embodiment, physicality, voice, and improvisation using masks
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Experience delivering creative sessions for children, young people, adults, and SEN groups
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Flexible, responsive approach shaped by years of community arts work
Skills
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Mask‑making (advanced)
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Solo theatre performance
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Multi‑instrumentalist: saxophone, melodian, flutes, pipe
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Scriptwriting & character creation
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Video production (DaVinci Resolve, OBS)
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Workshop facilitation
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Website building (Wix, HTML/CSS)
Online Presence
Instagram: 10.5k+ followers (mask‑making, character sketches, performance development) Website: www.philholmesperformance.com
Contact
Email: p.holmes2025@outlook.com Phone: +44 7769557321 Location: Canterbury / East Kent Available for performances, workshops, festivals, and collaborations
Commercial Bookings
I offer a modular solo masked theatre performance suitable for festivals, arts centres, schools, and community events. Fees vary depending on location, duration, and additional activities.
Typical rates start from £250–£450 per performance. Day rates and workshop packages are also available.
Every venue is different — click below to discuss your event and receive a tailored quote.
