Hand Puppets

Hand puppets - unlike many other kinds of puppets - can move very quickly and they have the unique ability to pick things up off the stage front board or from down below the curtain or screen the puppeteer is hiding behind.

This allows for a great deal of on-stage action as puppets are able to hit, bang, or throw things at each other - everything from straw brooms to pickles.

The manipulation of a hand puppet usually finds the puppeteers' hand inside the body of the puppet with the index finger inside the head, with the thumb and middle finger working the hands of the puppet.

What child in us doesn't squeal on the crocodile as he goes to bite Mr. Punch in the rump? Who among of us does not smile when he gets a couple of whacks on the head with Mr. Punch's lightning fast club?

Yes, we are amazed at the splendor of a big, elaborate show, but even the smallest, earthy, one-man show has the ability to be entertaining with its wicked little villains or its touching or courageous heroes. These shows will continue to be with us far, far into the future. At least, that is, until we stop wearing socks.

Here we see a hand puppet stage with the front drape removed. All of the action occurs on the playboard just above the puppeteers' head.

With the front drape in place, the puppeteer is hidden from view of the audience, although there are usually places in the curtain where the puppeteer can peek through and watch the audience watching the show.

This stage is made of PVC (plastic) pipe - other materials for building stages include wood and metal - whatever the puppeteer has on hand in his or her local area.