When your show features songs with titles such as The Internet is for Porn and Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist, a church is not necessarily the first place you would expect to pitch up for rehearsals.

But a compact church hall in south east London is where the cast of the West End and Broadway smash Avenue Q  practised for their nationwide tour.

When Vibe stopped by to meet the cast and get a glimpse of the work-in-progress, the room was stuffed with rigging, mirrors, desks and actors.

But the thing that most interested people was the larger-than-life puppets around the outside of the hall. Even in an inanimate state, they drew people in.

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Actor Stephen Arden plays Nicky and Trekkie Monster and is one of the lucky few to have previously toured with the show.

He said: “There is so much to think about when you’re operating the puppets, it’s a bit of a challenge. I didn’t feel like when I was finished that yet.

He added: “What helps the audience as well is you’re drawn to them.

“You look at them more than you’ll look at me. They are so vibrant and so alive. I think that is one of the reasons that why they design the puppets the eyes are so big.”

While Stephen has experience bringing the puppets to life and clearly enjoys the challenge, even if it becomes physically draining.

“I refer to them as ‘he’. If the puppet is not where he normally is, you’ll say ‘where is he?’

“You’re like an overprotective parent. As much as he’s fabric, he’s part of your costume, I guess.

“They don’t weigh a lot but when you have it on your arm for two hours it is a lot of pressure on one side of your body.

“At the moment I’m taped up with physio tape across my back to hold me in position. You tend to overcompensate and end up with one side bigger than the other.”

In the actors’ corner in rehearsals was puppet-guru Nigel Plaskitt.

Nigel’s a veteran of Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of Avenue Q.

He has worked on Muppets films, Captain Scarlett and The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy among others, and was helping the cast to reach perfection in puppetry.

Stephen said: “It’s great. The man’s a genius. Just when you think you’ve got something right he’ll come in and say ‘you’re just slightly off on that’.

“That’s the thing that keeps you coming back because you want to perfect it. There are always little things you can find and add to your character.”

Since it opened in 2003, Avenue Q has been an audience favourite and regular award winner, using  Jim Henson-style puppets to tell a story for adults that is full of irreverent humour and songs.

But even now, not all audiences know quite what they’re getting.

Stephen said: “It is not like any other musical.

“It is in a format that people are familiar with. It is like watching the TV show – everyone grew up watching the Muppets or Sesame Street or some sort of animated show.

“You come in and the style of show is that so you’re instantly transported. You don’t expect the profanity and swearing, people are like ‘Oh my god!’.”

Avenue Q is at Richmond Theatre from October 27 to 31. Tickets cost from £42.40. Go to atgtickets.com/richmond