... puppet shows

There is a great range of different types of puppets that can be used for entertainment and story telling for all ages - hand/sock puppets, Asian/Oriental shadow puppetry and the more complicated skills of marionettes (puppet on strings). There are also giant puppets that can be used for parades and pageants!

Write a script

• Remember that it is a story.
• Think about a moral to the story.
• Does not have to be traditional characters.
• Get some audience participation (oh no it isn't, oh yes it is!), or join-in songs.
• Don't need to make it too long.
• Think about the narration. It may be muffled behind the stage.

Make your characters

• It can be as simple as using old socks with ping-pong balls for eyes and felt for hair, or using dressed up wooden spoons.

Build a stage

• It can be a large decorated cardboard box, or something more elaborate with a wooden frame and cloth.

PuppeteersUK web site www.puppeteersuk.com/
Links to National Organisations, finding a puppeteer, searching for performances, events, courses and exhibitions.

Making puppets

• www.legendsandlore.com/sockpuppets.html
• www.legendsandlore.com/sackpuppets.html
• familyfun.go.com/crafts/buildmodel/specialfeature/puppets_crafts_sf

Ideas for scripts

• www.puppetresources.com/
• www.legendsandlore.com/scripts.html
• www.punchandjudy.com/scriptsframeset.htm
• www.aesopfables.com/
• teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/index.htm

Introduction and ideas for shadow puppetry

• www.osv.org/kids/crafts2.htm
• www.molli.org.uk/burma/theatre/make.htm

Introduction and ideas for giant puppets

• www.gis.net/~puppetco/