Plays for Puppet Performance

Puppetry has a very long tradition as a theatrical medium, and there is some evidence that it predates the live theatre. One of the fascinations of puppetry is that it combines many of the arts - sculpture, painting, design and, above all, theatre. The live actor must “assume” on stage a particular role in a manner that will be convincing to the audience. The puppeteer, on the other hand, creates the character and so, unlike the live actor, who has to recreate the part he plays for every performance, the puppet remains in character at all times. It is this single identity, sustained through the use of voice and movement, that makes a well-designed and well-constructed puppet character believable and convincing to the audience. This most important aspect is often overlooked when puppeteers produce a play. The attention of an audience cannot be guaranteed simply by holding up a puppet and making it move. Whether you have had considerable experience or are embarking upon your first production, you must prepare and rehearse your performance. There are no shortcuts. Here are ten puppet plays - five of them written by joint author Elizabeth Merten - as well as further tips and guidance on the many aspects of staging a successful puppet performance.