Pulling all the strings to m

For centuries, puppeteers across continents have b cleverly crafted figures to tell us stories – not only t but to educate and sometimes to help make us bett

A simple type of puppet where the puppet, which is generally in the shape of a sock, is worn on a puppeteer’s hand as a glove.

The puppet’s mouth is formed in the area between the puppeteer’s four fingers and their thumb, which acts as the puppet’s jaw.

A marionette is a puppet controlled from above using wires, strings or threads. The strings are connected to different parts of the puppet, and are joined to a control that the puppeteer holds and operates. This is one of the more complex types of puppetry and is hard to master as some marionettes can have up to 30 strings. A marionette’s puppeteer is called a marionettist.

A very simple type of puppet where the puppet is placed on the puppeteer’s finger and operated by moving the finger.

Shadow play, also known as shadow puppetry, uses cut-out figures that are held in front of a light. The figures’ shadows are projected onto a screen for the audience to see. The puppeteer moves the cut-out figures around, giving them movement and life.

A cone with a rod through it and a puppet inside. When the puppeteer pushes the rod up through the cone, the puppet appears.

A ventriloquist is a person or entertainer who can make their voice seem to come from somewhere else, often a dummy of a person or animal. A ventriloquist can usually be seen by the audience. The ventriloquist moves the dummy or puppet’s head, arms and mouth with their hands as well as with levers.

The performance usually takes the shape of a conversation between the dummy and the ventriloquist. The ventriloquist speaks normally, then puts on a different voice when the puppet is supposed to be talking. The ventriloquist’s lips don’t move, but the puppet’s lips usually move, so it seems as if the puppet is talking. Try to talk without your lips moving – it’s difficult!