- "Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance that involves the manipulation of puppets – inanimate objects, often resembling some type of human or animal figure, that are animated or manipulated by a human called a puppeteer."
The study of using puppets to tell stories and create theatrical performances.
Puppetry Basics: Introduction to the world of puppetry, covering topics such as history, types of puppets, and elements of a puppet performance.
Puppet Design and Construction: Detailed instructions for designing and constructing puppets, including materials, tools, and techniques.
Puppet Manipulation: Learning how to move and manipulate a puppet, including controls, breath, and focus.
Scriptwriting and Storytelling: Creating engaging stories and scripts for puppet performances, focusing on audience engagement.
Stagecraft and Set Design: Learning how to design and build stages and sets for puppet performances, including lighting and sound.
Sound and Music: Understanding the importance of sound and music in puppet performances, and how to create and integrate audio elements.
Performance Techniques: Advanced techniques for puppetry performance, such as character development, improvisation, and audience interaction.
Costuming and Props: Creating costumes and props for puppets to enhance their appearance and performance.
Marketing and Promotion: Promoting and marketing puppet performances, including developing a following and seeking out performance opportunities.
Collaboration and Ensemble Building: Learning how to work collaboratively in a puppet ensemble, including communication and creative problem-solving.
Puppetry for Film and Television: Understanding the unique considerations for puppetry in film and television, including camera angles and puppet design.
Puppetry for Education: Using puppetry as an educational tool, including developing curriculum and creating lesson plans.
Puppetry as Therapy: Understanding the therapeutic benefits of puppetry, including using puppets as a tool for self-expression and learning.
Puppetry for Social Change: Using puppetry to address social issues and inspire change, including political activism and community-building.
Hand puppetry: This type of puppetry is performed using a puppet that is operated by one hand, with the other hand manipulating the puppet's mouth or limbs.
Shadow puppetry: A type of puppetry that employs silhouettes of puppets that are projected onto a screen or wall, which is illuminated from behind.
String puppetry: This type of puppetry uses puppets that are controlled with strings, which are attached to the various limbs and body parts of the puppet.
Marionette puppetry: Similar to string puppetry, marionette puppetry uses puppets that are operated with strings, but the difference is that marionettes have a more sophisticated system of strings that allow them to move more fluidly.
Rod puppetry: A type of puppetry that employs puppets operated with rods that are attached to their limbs.
Glove puppetry: Like hand puppetry, this type of puppetry uses a puppet that fits over the puppeteer's hand, but the difference is that the puppet's limbs are operated with rods.
Bunraku puppetry: A type of puppetry that originated in Japan, which uses large, elaborate puppets that are operated by several puppeteers at once.
Object puppetry: This type of puppetry uses everyday objects, such as dishes or pieces of cloth, to create characters and tell stories.
Tabletop puppetry: A type of puppetry that is performed on a small tabletop stage, with puppets that are operated from below the stage.
Ventriloquism puppetry: A type of puppetry that involves a puppet that appears to be speaking and interacting with the audience, but is actually being voiced by the puppeteer.
- "The script for a puppet production is called a puppet play."
- "Puppeteers use movements from hands and arms to control devices such as rods or strings to move the body, head, limbs, and in some cases the mouth and eyes of the puppet."
- "The puppeteer sometimes speaks in the voice of the character of the puppet, while at other times they perform to a recorded soundtrack."
- "There are many different varieties of puppets, and they are made of a wide range of materials, depending on their form and intended use."
- "The simplest puppets are finger puppets, which are tiny puppets that fit onto a single finger."
- "Sock puppets... operated by inserting one's hand inside the sock, with the opening and closing of the hand simulating the movement of the puppet's 'mouth'."
- "A hand puppet or glove puppet is controlled by one hand which occupies the interior of the puppet and moves the puppet around."
- "Punch and Judy puppets are familiar examples."
- "Japanese Bunraku puppets... require two puppeteers for each puppet."
- "Marionettes are suspended and controlled by a number of strings, plus sometimes a central rod attached to a control bar held from above by the puppeteer."
- "Rod puppets... have more movement possibilities as a consequence than a simple hand or glove puppet."
- "Puppetry is a very ancient form of theatre which was first recorded in the 5th century BC in Ancient Greece."
- "Some forms of puppetry may have originated as long ago as 3000 years BC."
- "Puppetry takes many forms, but they all share the process of animating inanimate performing objects to tell a story."
- "Puppetry occurs in almost all human societies..."
- "Puppets are used... as sacred objects in rituals."
- "Puppets are used... as symbolic effigies in celebrations such as carnivals."
- "Puppets are used... as a catalyst for social and psychological change in transformative arts."
- "Puppets are used... for the purpose of entertainment through performance, as sacred objects in rituals, as symbolic effigies in celebrations such as carnivals, and as a catalyst for social and psychological change in transformative arts."