How do you become a puppeteer?

Encountering a puppeteer is generally a rare occurrence. If you have ever met a professional puppeteer, you will have been surprised to learn about the amount of hard work and dedication it takes to become one.

Some of the basic skills one needs to have a good grasp of are voice creation, singing, script writing, acting, sewing and set construction. But, first and foremost, one needs to learn how to control a puppet. Control is key. Master puppeteers have complete control over their puppets at all times.

The second thing to master is eye focus. Eye movement can be a major factor in helping your act look more natural, especially when you are a ventriloquist as well.

Union Internationale la Marionette (UNIMA) was the first cultural organisation established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1929, and works to encourage cultural interaction through

the art of puppetry.

UNIMA SA was founded in 1972 and runs year-round puppetry education and development

programmes.

The Handspring

Trust for Puppetry Arts, a non-profit organisation, was established in 2010 and has programmes aimed at identifying and mentoring the next generation of puppetry artists through workshops, academic engagement and the support of ongoing projects in rural areas and townships. The trust has premises in the informal settlement of Vrygrond near Handspring’s Cape Town puppet factory.

The Jungle Theatre in Muizenberg, Cape Town, creates puppetry and physical theatre based on educational themes of environmental awareness. Jungle Theatre also has a training programme to develop performance and puppetry skills for young performers.

Puppetry is also taught at a number of higher education institutions, including Stellenbosch University and Tshwane University of Technology.