Handmade Puppet Theatre

Puppet theaters are an inexpensive way to have fun.

Kids love to put on puppet shows, and building them a theater in which to perform will help their creativity blossom. Depending upon the size of your home, there are different ways in which to create a stage for them to entertain the family. With just a few sheets of plywood, fabric, glue and thread, you can turn any doorway or living room into a performing arts center.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Thread
• Decorative ribbon
• Velcro
• Plywood
• Hinges
• Knobs
• Nails
• Glue
• Paint
• Brushes
• Curtain rod
• Circular saw
• Drill
• Jigsaw

Instructions

1. Choose a doorway to hang the puppet theater. Any room in the house can serve as backstage in this version of the project which only requires fabric, thread, a curtain rod and little else. Let the kids pick colors and patterns for the fabric as well as decorative flourishes to complete their vision of the theater.

2. Cut the fabrics to fit the chosen doorway. Typical doorways measure about 29 by 36 inches, but sizes vary. Seven panels will be required. These include three panels of matching pattern for the top of the theater — one long piece at about 14 by 36 inches and two measuring about 8 by 13 inches. The bottom of the theater should be another color or pattern, and measure the width of the doorway. Finally, two panels about 12 by 14 inches for the curtain, and a dowel pocket for hanging that runs about 1 1/2 by 34 inches.

3. Sew and hem the panels accordingly. Take the two 8 by 13 inch pieces and hem the 13-inch-long sides in about 1/2 inch each. Stitch each one to both ends of the third, longer piece of matching fabric at 14 by 36 inches so that the end result looks like a large C. Stitch the doorway-width fabric to the other ends of the two 8-by-13-inch pieces so that once it's done, it looks like one big rectangle with an open "window" in the middle. Hem all of the edges around the middle window for a finished look.

4. Pin the curtain fabrics to the middle window of the big fabric rectangle. Sew decorative trim around the window for a more festive look, and hem the top panel of the theater so that it can act as a curtain rod pocket in order to hang it up properly. Pin the dowel pocket on the back of the rectangle beneath the window.

5. Attach Velcro or ribbons to the top of the window so that the curtains can be opened up and held back.

6. Slip a curtain rod into the pocket and hang the puppet theater in the doorway.

7. Cut plywood sheets with a circular saw to build a free-standing puppet theater out of wood. Most hardware stores can also cut plywood by request. One 4-by-8-foot piece should suffice, cut into three panels, with the middle measuring 4 by 4 feet and the two sides measuring 2 by 4 feet.

8. Create cardboard templates for the windows, then trace them on the smaller 2-by-4-foot plywood panels and cut them out with a jigsaw. Sand the edges down smooth.

9. Draw the main stage window in a rectangular shape on the 4-by-4-foot panel and cut it out, making sure to sand down all of the edges.

10. Paint the panels in festive colors. Have the kids choose what colors they want their theater to be.

11. Install a removable shelf to the bottom of the window. Measure the size of the window that has been cut into the theater front panel. Use a strip of pine about 1 by 6 inches, then cut and notch it to fit the window. Then cut another strip of pine to act as a support brace at about 1 by 3 inches. Glue and nail the brace into position beneath the wider piece of pine. When finished, the shelf should extend out beneath the window.

12. Attach the side panels to the middle panel with hinges, making sure to add safety chains to the bottom so that the side panels cannot swing out more than 120 degrees. The side panels are designed to open and close like a set of doors, so screw or glue knobs to the backs of the side panels.

13. Make a curtain out of fabric, measured in accordance with the middle panel window. Stitch the top over to make a pocket for a curtain rod. Slide the curtain rod through the pocket and hang it up on the back of the middle panel so that it covers the stage window. Now it's show time!

Tips & Warnings

• These size specifications are suggestions and can be changed and customized based on doorway specifications or size preference for the free-standing version of the puppet theater.

• Keep all sharp items and dangerous tools away from children without strict parental supervision.

References

• Disney FamilyFun: Puppet Playhouse
• The Crafty Cupboard: Handmade #2: Doorway Puppet Theatre