Captain Lu

Captain Lu was the stern female captain on the spaceship of the Kometkameratene ("The comet comrades"). She was meant to keep the boys in order. 

Kometkameratene was a series about nine aliens who are on their way to Earth in a spaceship. Their mission was to find out what people on Earth spend their time doing. 

Kometkameratene was created by the Swedish company BLA (Stockholm), in collaboration with NRK’s children’s television division NRK Super.

BLA has specialised in puppet theatre for television, and was responsible for the concept, script, direction and for the construction of the puppets. Petter Lennstrand from BLA was responsible for the concept and directed the production.  

In total, 48 episodes of Kometkameratene were produced between 2008 and 2011.

Information

(Objekt ID 147084)
Object type Puppet
Production date 2008
Category Muppet
Themes Television figure, Children
License

© NRK Super and BLA Stockholm.

Teaterfigur

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Six "adult" and three young aliens (Rampejentene; "The rascal girls") were on their way to Earth in a spaceship. In each episode, two aliens were sent to Earth to investigate a human activity. They would explore the activity and communicate with humans before returning to their spaceship in order to discuss their findings with their colleagues, who would try to understand what the two emissaries had experienced. 

Captain Lu was performed by Hanne Dahle.

In one of the photographs, Åsmund Huser "plays" Captain Lu for the photographer.  

Sources: Helgesen, Anne: Descriptions for the TV puppet exhibition "Alle tiders barndomshelter" ("Childhood heroes through the generations"), Slottsfjellsmuseet/Figurfestspillene, 19–28 January 2024.

Ownership: On loan from NRK.

Transmitted to Sceneweb: 15.02.2024.

Types of materiale

Captain Lu was a female captain with clearly feminine characteristics. The face had two large, almond-shaped yellow eyes with black pupils. The long ponytail was constantly moving. Otherwise the mouth contributed to her specific looks and expression.

She appears to be made of fleece. She is wearing an almost knee-length dress. She has visible, thin arms and legs. Her hair and ponytail are burgundy or rust-brown, the dress is black and her "skin" is green-grey in colour.   

The above description is based on photographs. 

Construction/technique

Captain Lu was a muppet with the large, movable mouth that is characteristic for muppet figures. In addition to movement in the mouth region, Lu had arms/hands that could be controlled with rods, one of which was fixed to each of the puppet’s hands. The legs hung from the body and moved freely. 

The performer controls the mouth with one hand and the puppet’s hands with the other. 

Captain Lu was light in weight and comfortable to play. In the studio, the performers’ needs were well taken care of. 

The above description is based on photographs. 

Affiliations (3)
NRK (organization) – Creator
BLA Stockholm (organization) – Puppet Maker, Designer
Kometkameratene (production) – Muppet