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If burglars were to break in to Steve Wright's puppet workshop, it's likely they would turn and run for safety in the surrounding Pennine Hills - one of the first things to greet visitors entering the puppeteer's chaotic workspace is a 12 foot high Margaret Thatcher, complete with the word "Hate" tatooed on each knuckle.
"She's off to London tomorrow for Elton John's new stage production of Billy Elliot the Musical," reveals Wright. Despite the draw of the West End, however, Wright prefers to work with a different and, even considering Elton's well-documented tantrums, more challenging client group.
More than 50,000 young people have been treated to a "Wright Stuff" production since 2000 in every conceivable venue, from classrooms and youth facilities to village halls and fetes.
He has created well over 50 original characters to explore issues around drugs, family life, teenage stress and sexual health. "The pieces we do are big on laughs with lots of street characters," he says. "It creates a great atmosphere and, after the performance, it's easy to discuss those issues around that character."
Recent productions, which have been released on DVD with support packs for teachers and youth workers, involve The Wright Stuff engaging young people in the film-making process, and many characters feature young people's voices.
"Young people are growing up in a much more serious urban world than previous generations," says Wright. "I couldn't have coped with those temptations when I was a teenager."
Wright's own upbringing was not exactly smooth - he left home at 15 after experiencing family difficulties.
"I've just turned 40, and I've been asking myself where I have come from. I did have a difficult teenage life and that probably is a bit of a factor in why I am doing what I am doing."
Wright became a landscape gardener but, at 23 fell into puppetry by accident after a local fete asked if he would put on a show with some souveneir marionettes he had brought home from a holiday in India.
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His small team is currently working on two new DVD resources on drug education for teenagers. Alogside theatrical and fim productions, The Wright Stuff also produces resource packs to assist youth workers and teachers .
"It's all about observation and the characters we create have familiar histories," says Wright.
Many hang from the walls of Wright's workshop near Huddersfield. the use of strong Black and ethnic characters helps The Wright Stuff to make it's productions as inclusive as possible, he explains.
Plucking one puppet from the pile, Wright says: "Take DV here- he speaks in English but tells a load of jokes in Punjabi. The Punjabi kids in the audience get all the jokes, and the other guys are desperate to get a translation."
Wright's favourite character is Bez, a baseball-capped, demotivated 16 year old whose fag-smoking father uses him as a fast food delivery service.
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- Steve Wright is a self-taught puppeteer who worked alongside five other artists to form The Wright Stuff.
- He started working with young people after Kirklees Youth Services asked him to put on Summer puppet workshops
- Funders for The Wright Stuff's projects include Connexions West Yorkshire, Kirklees Council, the New Opportnities Fund and Kirklees Drug Action Team
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"Bez's dad is on long-term sick and will never engage with him. Bez is just the type of character who is looking for inspiration," he says.
In the near future, Wright is hoping to move into a new building to create an arts resource for young people and create a youth arts network. In the shorter term, Wright is planning a break in Valencia in Spain to see the Las Fallas festival. "They burn giant puppets there," he says. "I'm going to take a fire extinguisher and see if I can save a few."
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