Puppet Theatres

My preferred theatre is a plumbing-pipe jigsaw puzzle, shown below in the two-man theatre design, first with the curtain on, then views of the pipes and joints.

This photograph was taken standing up. Remember that the audience will be seated, so they will not be able to see the gap at the base of the back curtain.

I’m hoping this design will soon be available in NZ. In the meantime, why don’t you make it yourself? Ask your local plumber for the parts, get a handy male to cut the lengths to size, and fit it all together. Sew a curtain to slide over the horizontal pipes (leaving gaps in the seams for the legs, of course), and you’re all set to play!

Note: the green and black binding tape on the above example is there because the theatre is old and extremely well used. The black dots are velcro tabs to secure the base of the curtain.

Various theatre designs are available from www.OneWayStreet.com and www.Puppetorium.com in the USA. Karen Bennett of www.NZPuppets.co.nz offers an attractive, lightweight, collapsible design with draw curtains, but the back curtain arrangement means that the puppeteers must work blind.

If you are taking the trouble to learn puppetry skills, to select a script and find all the accoutrements that will turn it into a play, you have the potential for tremendous service for the Lord. You need your own puppets, you need your own theatre, and you need to use your skills in your church and community for the glory of God.

If you know of any adult-sized puppet theatres being made or sold from stores in the South Pacific, please email KyriellePublishing(at)xtra.co.nz !