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Puppetry

Performing Arts

Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance in which a puppeteer manipulates puppets, inanimate figures that often resemble a human or animal, to create a performance sometimes called a puppet production, from a script known as a puppet play. Puppeteers use their hands and arms to work rods or strings that move a puppet's body, head, limbs and sometimes its mouth and eyes, and the puppeteer may speak in the character's voice or perform to a recorded soundtrack.

Facts
Medium
Theatre or performance involving the manipulation of puppets by a human puppeteer. 1
Signature Technique
Rods or strings controlling the body, head and limbs, and in some cases the mouth and eyes, of the puppet. 1
Place of Origin
Ancient Egypt: string-operated wooden figures are documented as early as 2000 BCE, among the earliest independent puppet traditions. 1
Notable Example
Punch and Judy, the familiar British hand-puppet show. 1
Connections

Associated With

Mime, Art Forms

Puppetry and mime are kindred non-verbal performing arts, both relying on visual and physical storytelling rather than spoken text.

Theatre, Art Forms

Puppetry is a performing art historically staged within and alongside the theatrical tradition, using object and figure manipulation rather than live actors.

Sources
1. Puppetry (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • lead section, Puppetry
    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.
  • History section, Puppetry
    There is evidence that they were used in Egypt as early as 2000 BCE when string-operated figures of wood were manipulated to perform the action of kneading bread.
  • Types of puppets section, Puppetry
    Punch and Judy puppets are familiar examples.
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