Societies around the world have their puppet traditions and puppetry remains a vital theatrical art; yet puppetry has received little attention in the theoretical study of theatre. The present study offers an aesthetic theory and vocabulary for practitioners, critics, and audiences to utilize in creating, evaluating, viewing, and describing the age-old, yet ever-new art of the puppet.

Asserting that no satisfactory theory or descriptive vocabulary has yet been advanced for the theatrical puppet, Steve Tillis seeks the underlying principles through observation and analysis of...

Introduce children to the fascinating world of puppetry with this unique book by former teacher-librarian and veteran puppeteer Laura Ross. Step-by-step instructions and clear diagrams help beginners create captivating paper-bag puppets, rod puppets for shadow plays, and papier-mache puppets with their own cloth costumes.
Large, easy-to-read type and full-size traceable patterns show would-be puppeteers how to master basic skills: dressing and handling puppets, setting up a stage, and writing and producing an original show. In addition, newcomers to the craft will learn how to...

Unlike other performing arts, puppetry is perhaps the only art form in which directing, acting, writing, designing, sculpture, and choreography are combined. In effect, the performer is creating an artistic entertainment that will appeal to audiences of all ages -- in homes, in theaters, and in classrooms.
This lucid, easy-to-follow book was specifically conceived to teach beginners how to bring a hand puppet to life and how, with practice, to develop the skills needed to mount an amateur puppet show -- complete with staging, costumes, and special effects. Award-winning puppeteers Larry...

In this informative volume, a master puppeteer shares his expertise in the variety of behind-the-scenes skills involved in bringing puppets to life. Drawing on years of experience, George Latshaw conducts readers through every stage of the puppeteer's art, from simple, preparatory hand exercises to advice on performing before an audience.
Following a brief retrospective of the fascinating ancient art of puppetry, Latshaw offers clear, abundantly illustrated suggestions for preparing for a performance, explains how to construct several types of puppets, and presents a series of exercises...

Want to use puppets in storytelling but think you lack the confidence or talent? Then this is the book for you Jan VanSchuyver explains how you can enliven storytelling and book sharing without fancy productions or complicated puppets. Her hands-in approach includes scripts and ideas for group activities accompanied by tried and true techniques for creating and using puppets to introduce books, lead songs, and tell stories. Problems with and solutions to working with children, whose reactions are often unpredictable, are an integral part of this resource.

Henryk Jurkowski's seminal 1988 text, Aspects of Puppet Theatre, was groundbreaking in its analysis of puppetry as a performing art. This new edition of a classic brings the original text back to life, including four additional essays and a new introduction, edited and translated by leading puppetry scholar Penny Francis.