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	UPPET THEATRE —
	A THOUSAND AND ONE FACES

	hroughout the ages and in myriad cultures, puppets have told many tales and played many roles. They have been used in everything from ritual to education, myths, social criticism, comedy, abstract poetry, historical epics and urban tales. A multitude of characters pass through the puppet theatre. Some are drawn from oral tradition or literature, while others are the product of imagination.
	he style of a puppet theatre is determined by the type of puppet used, the repertoire and the audience for which works are intended. Some styles are rooted in ancient traditions and others emerge as new theatrical forms are developed.

	hrough their many talents, puppeteers can create an entire universe. A puppet is primarily intended for presentation in a full theatrical setting. On stage, everything comes together: movement, facial expression, costume, as well as inflections of tone, to suggest a character, a state, an atmosphere.
	ave you noticed? Puppets' features are very pronounced, often exaggerated. A character's personality is therefore dramatically projected and can be recognized as far away as the last row in the theatre.
	ypes of Puppetry Bunraku theatre Sicilian marionettes (New) Indonesian theatre (QuickTime VR) Punch, Judy and company Fairy tales and other stories (QuickTime VR) Theatre, Music and Ballet . . . Puppet Fashion A new look at traditions The variety show Puppets on the small screen — New medium, new form (QuickTime VR) Theme and Variations (QuickTime VR)

Created: August 1, 1996. Last update: September 14, 2001 © Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation

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