Toby has been making and performing puppets since he was six. He now works as a performer, designer, maker and director of puppetry, creating inventive and engaging work that ignites an audience's imagination.

Originally from Northumberland, he moved to London to train in puppetry at The Central School of Speech and Drama where he was the only student in his year to study the discipline. Before graduating in 2006 he became involved in the development of the National Theatre's production of War Horse and went on to play the hind of Joey in the original production before moving to Joey's head for the subsequent West End transfer. On leaving the show as a performer in 2011 he was made an associate puppetry director.

Alongside his involvement with War Horse, Toby has continued to create, develop, perform and direct puppetry for a variety of companies. Highlights include work for the Royal Opera House, Chichester Festival Theatre, Handspring Puppet Company, BBC Three, Improbable, English National Opera, Theatre-Rites and the Little Angel Theatre. Forthcoming collaborations include Tori Amos's The Light Princess directed by Marianne Elliott and designed by Rae Smith at the National Theatre.