The Hatchling is a giant puppet dragon of kite construction; created for street theatre, performance art, procession and flight.

[1] The Hatchling also presented at The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pageant,[2] on 5 June 2022, leading a procession of 5,000 street performers along The Mall, London.

The floodlit kite was towed by the vessel St Nicholas and escorted by the tug Prince Rock, while flying from West Hoe Bay to Barn Pool in Plymouth, then recovered from shore.

[12] Sandra Smith of The Lost Sound described the launch:[1] Dusk turned into night time and the field was lit up with white search lights and the dragon became iridescent.

Many times she nearly got off the ground, to roars from the crowd, but she couldn't get high enough to fly and then, suddenly, there was enough breeze and she lifted, haltingly, unsteadily, but she began to rise.

Whilst found in stories in every ancient culture around the world, the dragon is revered and respected in eastern mythology but often considered menacing in western folklore.

[3] The idea was conceived by Angie Bual, artistic director of Trigger, and was "brought to life in collaboration with a team of leading creatives including Mervyn Millar, part of the original creative team of the... stage production War Horse, and Carl Robertshaw, a designer who has created sets for the London 2012 Olympic Ceremonies... and is a five-time sport kite world champion".

On 5 June 2022: [The] Hatchling dragon puppet led an array of cultural celebrations outside Buckingham Palace at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant ... bringing central London to life with colour, street theatre and dance.

Intricate kites and long, flowing ribbons unfurled at the dragon’s wings, adding a sense of flight, excitement and celebration.

[3] As described by The Guardian in 2021:[17] A giant dragon puppet will be the centrepiece of the platinum jubilee pageant as the story of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign is told through street theatre, dance, circus acts and marching bands during a central London spectacular.

[17] The Hatchling dragon puppet led an array of cultural celebrations outside Buckingham Palace at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 5 June 2022, bringing central London to life with colour, street theatre and dance.

[14] The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pageant featured some of the original puppetry cast, from The Hatchling's Plymouth premiere, alongside numerous other performers and kiters.

It is constructed from super lightweight carbon fibre weighing less than a piece of hand luggage, allowing it to be operated by a team of 36 puppeteers working in rotation in groups of 15.