Monster Troupe

The Monster Troupe wants to Haunt you!

Seen since 2010 at the Portsmouth Halloween Parade, the community based, Monster Troupe, is renowned for its captivating costumed street theatre, mesmerizing giant puppets, and engaging dancers.

10/05/2026

Details, Details! 🎃
After completing the packing floor plan for all our giant puppets, we’ve officially reserved TWO 26-foot U-Haul trucks for the blessed event. Because apparently, one enormous truck just isn’t enough for the Monster Troupe. 😂
A big thank-you in advance to Johnny D. & Tim, our fearless drivers this year, and to Scott, Steve & Janice for helping us pack up all our lovelies the day before Halloween.
The logistics may not be glamorous, but there’s a LOT that goes into getting this show on the road—literally!

10/04/2026

So excited to see Alex Nunn and the Port City Makerspace honored as this year’s Portsmouth Halloween Parade Grand Marshal! 🎃

The Makerspace has come to the Monster Troupe’s rescue more than once over the years—helping Little Ricky move his head, soldering a couple of spider legs when their lights went dark, and connecting us with Jeff Gunn, who made our clown eyes come to life. We’re delighted to have Jeff back in the Troupe again this year!

Behind every good spectacle are clever people who know how to make the impossible work. We’re lucky to have these folks in our corner.

Congratulations, Alex and Port City Makerspace—a well-deserved honor!

10/03/2026

At 4:09am last night, something caused the automatic lights in our garage to turn on.
THE PUPPETS ARE GETTING RESTLESS.

10/01/2026

Consider, if you will, a woman entering her garage on an ordinary September evening. She has come to retrieve something. Nothing more.

The garage is dark. The automatic light has yet to respond. But something else… already has.

From the torso of a Monster Troupe backpack puppet comes a red light. Pulsing slowly. Almost like a heartbeat.

The puppet has not been turned on in months.

Our visitor retreats to the basement for a remote control. She succeeds in turning the light off. But when she attempts to reproduce that slow, steady pulse, she cannot.

Apparently, the puppet has a setting unavailable to its owner.

A minor electrical mystery? Perhaps. But with Halloween approaching, one might question who—or what—is conducting the early rehearsals in the Monster Troupe’s lair.

Draw your own conclusions. Preferably before turning out the lights.

09/29/2026

Ladies and gentlemen, creatures and curiosities…
The curtain is rising on the final season of the Monster Troupe. ✨
Every year we gather an unlikely collection of artists, dancers, puppeteers, makers, monsters, and magnificent weirdos to bring the streets of Portsmouth to life.
The 2026 Final roster is official. Meet the cast of characters behind the monster madness. 👀

09/28/2026

Medusa’s ready for her public. Her expression suggests the feeling isn’t mutual.

Today, Sandy, Chris, Johnny and Brian packed a lot into the Medusa Team’s second session! Her skirt was hemmed, her cap of hair lined with opaque fabric to prevent unwanted light escaping at night, and everyone learned how to connect her wiring when her head rejoins her body. A lighting check completed the proceedings—she’s ready to roll!

Afterward, Sandy, Chris and Johnny stepped into the spotlight for documentary interviews with Mary Johanna Brown and Dan Freund. So much ground covered, so many stories behind the spectacle.

Thank you to this wonderful crew. The Monster Troupe is filled with caring, generous people—the puppets may get the attention, but the people give them life. ❤️

09/27/2026

The Frankie team gathered yesterday to train with their giant puppet and work on his new, lighter, more expressive hands. A few final tweaks today, and they’re officially finished—ready to lurch, lumber and menace the good citizens of Portsmouth!

The Bride also received a manicure and fresh polish, taking the peril out of those sharp fingertips. Terrifying the children is one thing; puncturing them is quite another.

Many thanks to Donna, Sundie, Helena and Stanford for their helping hands in this oversized undertaking! 🎃

09/26/2026

Our Devil hats are FINALLY done—works of art with wicked intentions! 🔥 Each one holds many, MANY hours of work and the talents of so many Troupe members. It takes an astonishing amount of patience and goodwill to look this diabolical!
35 days until Halloween 🎃

Address

Portsmouth, NH
03801–03804

Website

http://www.monstertroupe.com/

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