To build a Puppet Theater for Kids, you must have the basic equipment. This includes hand puppets or shadow puppets, a Foam presentation board, and boxes. To make the Puppet Theater for Kids more impressive, you can add other items like a curtain and a stage. You can even use props, such as costumes or a backdrop.
Full DIY Plans are available here!!
Hand puppets
You can build a shadow puppet theater out of a cardboard box. Cut a strip of cardboard a half inch thick and about 1 and a half inches long. This will form the front of the theater. Attach the finger puppet to the strip. Make sure the strip is wide enough for the puppet to be supported by the finger. Once glued on, allow it to dry thoroughly.
Depending on the size of your puppets, you can use hand puppets or larger puppets. Unlike hand puppets, which can be easily moved around with just one hand, larger puppets require two puppeteers. One example of this type of puppet is the Japanese Bunraku puppets. Bunraku puppets are controlled by strings, while hand puppets are manipulated by a central rod. In general, rod puppets consist of a body form attached to a central rod, and an attached head and arms. Rod puppets can be more complex and have more movement possibilities.
Another way to make a puppet theater is to use a shelf stage for props. You can buy a triangular shelf support at a hardware store. Then, attach it to the front piece using gaffer's tape. You can also hang it on stick-hooks. Once it is hung, place the puppets in front of the curtain.
Shadow puppets
If you want to show shadow puppets in a puppet theater, you must know how to use light effectively. A few factors affect light quality: color, angle, and intensity. Generally, a more powerful light behind the screen is required for shadow puppetry. Also, you must experiment with the location of the light in the space. Bright lights are easier to see from a distance, while dim light creates a more intimate feeling.
To create shadow puppets, artists use different materials. For example, donkey skin is commonly used in China, water buffalo skin is used in South-East Asia, and goat or buffalo skin is used in India. Certain puppets have very specific requirements, such as being made from bear or goat skin. Some people even meditate before they start making important figures.
In addition to the importance of light in puppetry, shadow puppets can also develop rapport between the puppeteer and the audience. These creative processes foster children's aesthetic and emotional intelligence. By incorporating shadow theatre in ELT programs, we can meet this need for connection. As a trained teacher, Tatjana combines visual arts and drama in her classroom. As a result, she has developed short plays and practical activities using shadow puppetry techniques.
In China, shadow puppet theaters have many branches. Beijing's Shadow Puppet Theater, for example, features unique carving and figurine modeling techniques.
Foam presentation board
A cardboard box or foam presentation board can be used to build a puppet theater. Its wide center panel should be able to accommodate the puppets without any difficulty. The sides should be able to fold back and form the proscenium. A tabletop version will have a cutout for a proscenium in front and back.
Craft foam can also be used to decorate the puppet theater. It can be painted to look like a palace theater, circus tent, or music shell. It can also be decorated with corrugated cardboard molding. The decoration will add weight to the puppet theater. To balance it, add L-shaped strips of corrugated cardboard.
Boxes
You can build a puppet theater out of boxes. This simple project requires little or no money and is a great way to spend time with your child. You'll need cardboard boxes of varying sizes. Once you have the size you need, cut a hole at the top of the box. This hole will serve as a control for the puppets and scenery. You can also use cardboard molding to give your puppet theater more weight. For added decoration, you can cut L-shaped strips of corrugated cardboard.
To make a puppet theater, you'll need a box of a light color, but you can also use white or light-colored paper. You can even use wax paper if you prefer. Just be sure that the paper has a hole at the top so the audience and puppetmaster can see it.
Another way to decorate your puppet theater is to use craft foam. You can make curtains out of this material. One way to make curtains is to cut pillowcases in half so they fit inside. Then, fold one half into an accordion pleat and insert it into the side openings. You can cut more pillowcases than you need, and you can make more than one of them.
Another way to create a puppet theater is to use furniture boxes. You can find these at furniture stores or even large-scale suppliers. They are sturdy, foldable, and have space for a stage and props. For the stage, you'll need a table that's at least five to six feet tall and wide. The sides can be two feet wide.
Felt
There are many ways to use felt to make your puppets. If you aren't comfortable sewing, you can use hot glue to stick the pieces together. But be careful - hot glue can ruin the felt. If you don't want to use hot glue, you can use newspaper.
A simple cardboard box theater makes a great stage for your puppets. You can decorate it with non-toxic paint. You can make it look like a royal palace theater, a circus tent, or a music shell. You can also make handles out of drinking straws.
You can also make finger puppets using felt. If you're not comfortable using a needle and thread, you can cut out a house and a cereal box with the Cricut. Once you've cut out the pieces of felt, you can sew them together. You can also use a popsicle stick for a puppet stick.
After you've made the puppet theater, you can decorate it. It won't be seen by the audience, but you can use decorations. Remember that the stage will be dark during the show. So you can't use too much decorative fabric, but you can add borders and other accessories to add to the set.
You can also use a cardboard box or foam presentation board to build your puppet theater. It should have a wide panel in the center and two fold-back sides. A tabletop version should have a cut for the proscenium at the front and back.
Gaffer's tape
If you are interested in creating a puppet theater at home, you can make a tabletop version with cardboard and a few simple supplies. Once you've created the stage, you can decorate it with non-toxic acrylic paint. You can paint the stage to look like a royal palace, circus tent, or a music shell. You can also add cardboard molding to the sides of the stage for added weight.
To build your own puppet theater, you will need some supplies such as gaffer's tape. This type of tape is made with pressure-sensitive adhesive and comes in several different colors. The most common color is black, which blends well with any theatre or film set. The tape's rough matte surface means it won't reflect light and won't interfere with the lighting during a production shoot. It's also a pressure-sensitive tape, meaning it will create a strong and stable bond.
Next, line up the pieces you want to join together. Mark the middle of each piece where the knuckle notch is. You'll want to have a heavy crease and room between the fingers and the mouth. The head foam will be attached on top of the mouth, so it's important to create a large enough space for the mouth. You can then use a piece of gaffer's tape with a sticky back to make a mouth for the puppet.
Puppets and costumes require daily maintenance and repair, so it's important to keep an emergency kit handy. Many Broadway shows use these kits to make repairs if something unexpected happens. They contain items such as Gaffer's tape, tools, and nuts and bolts. When a puppet breaks, you want to be ready to fix it right away.