The History of Puppet Theaters

Puppet theater began about 4,000 years ago.

According to Puppets Now, it is impossible to pinpoint the exact birth date of puppet theater. However, estimates indicate that puppetry goes back approximately 4,000 years. Since then, it has evolved in numerous civilizations. From ancient Egypt to 15th century Japan to Renaissance Italy, puppetry has been used to both entertain sophisticated imperial courts and teach morals to poor, illiterate populaces.

Geography

Puppet theater has existed for centuries throughout Europe and Asia.

European puppet theater originated in Greece. In Japan, bunraku has been the dominant puppetry style, while the Middle East and China have long favored shadow puppets. In the 16th century, commedia dell'arte, an improvisational theatrical style based on buffoonery, developed in Italy. According to Kids Europe, Pulcinella, (translated to Mr. Punch), was a marionette that became popular during carnival celebrations. Marionettes--puppets manipulated by strings attached to arms and legs--have been found in tombs and burial chambers in Egypt, Greece, India and Rome.

Features

Karagoz puppetry uses candles to cast shadows.

Japanese bunraku puppets are life-size. The puppets act out stories while someone narrates and a musician plays samisen music. Turkish puppet shows are called karagoz and are a form of shadow puppetry. A performer uses sticks to move the puppet while a candle casts the puppet's image against a screen. In Mexico, in the pre-Columbian city of Teotihuacán, statue puppets have been unearthed near burial sites.

Theories/Speculation

There are several legends attached to the evolution of puppets. According to Travel China Guide, 2,000 years ago an Emperor of the Han Dynasty became so depressed after losing his favorite concubine that he was unable to rule. When one of his ministers saw children playing with dolls that cast vivid shadows, he ordered that a doll be made in the concubine's likeness to entertain the emperor. In Japan, legend has it that playwrights became so tired of dealing with the actors' demands that they created the life-size bunraku.

Function

Puppet plays educated the illiterate about Christianity during the Middle Ages.

Facing an illiterate populace, the Church during the medieval era supported puppet theater as a way of teaching Christian morals. In Africa, puppets were incorporated in healing rituals, while in Indonesia holy men sometimes used puppets during speeches. While ancient Greeks and Romans had puppet performances to entertain the wealthy, they were also inexpensive forms of entertainment for the plebeians and it was not uncommon for puppet shows to mock the ruling classes.

Types

Julie Taymor's "The Lion King" is a modern-day example of puppet theater.

In addition to carnivals and public square performances, puppets have also been used in operas. An example of this stems from Venice's Teatro San Moise when, during the late 1600s, puppet operas began to be performed. Modern-day puppet theater examples include Julie Taymor's Broadway rendition of "The Lion King," which utilizes roughly 250 puppet masks, according to Anne Salt, the show's supervisor. Other pop culture examples include "Avenue Q," which ran on Broadway from 2003 to 2009, as well as the Muppets franchise, created by Jim Henson.

References

• Origins: Puppet Theater
• Geographical Breakdown: Puppet Theater
• India: Puppet History
• China: Puppetry
• Italy: Pulcinella