puppetry

Puppetry is a performing art in which puppets—figures or dolls—are moved by a puppeteer to tell stories or convey ideas. Puppets can be operated by hand, strings, rods, or shadows cast on a screen. The form spans theatre, television, film, education, and therapy, and often combines acting, design, and music.

Puppetry has ancient roots across many cultures. Variants appear in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Notable traditions include Japan’s bunraku, India’s string and rod puppetry, and Chinese shadow puppetry, as well as European marionette theatre of the early modern period.

Common types include string marionettes controlled by multiple puppeteers, hand puppets worn over the hand, rod puppets with attached sticks, and shadow puppets whose silhouettes appear on a screen. Bunraku is a master form requiring coordinated movement among several operators.

Construction and performance: Puppets are built from wood, fabric, leather, or modern polymers and designed for expressive movement. Operators coordinate movement with voice, timing, and gesture, often using lighting and sound. Puppetry demands collaboration among designers, puppeteers, and directors, and benefits from rehearsal and audience feedback.

In contemporary culture, puppetry remains active in theatres, television, cinema, education, and community arts. It has adapted to new technology, including digital and projection-based methods. The tradition includes both professional troupes and educational programs, continuing to influence popular media through creators such as Jim Henson and his successors.