SHADOW PUPPET MAKING

THATS THE WAY TO DO IT

Make a Shadow Puppet and Screen

Shadow Puppets are wonderful things. In Bali the Dalangs (puppeteers) we talked to were of priest like status (very much respected in Bali) The puppet shows could contain the world's wisdom wrapped up in the Ramayana or Mahabarata epic stories. All human life was here in shadows on a flat screen. The Dalang also would make contemporary asides based on world news. When Philosophers at Denpasar University were stuck on a point they would call for the Dalang. Back in Three Crosses, Swansea three girls became obsessed with a story of a cumquat they drew all the workshop participants into their fantasy and the shadow show induced uncontrollable laughter.

BILL HAMBLETT ............SMALL WORLD THEATRE

It can be very simple. recycle thin card , the sort you may find used to make a cereal package. Use a pencil and draw your subject on the card. If it is a human for instance it is usually better to draw a profile so it can move back and forth across the screen. Any of the puppet's limbs you wish to have moving draw separately from the body. Cut out the profile. Punch holes in the body and the top end of the arm. Use small brass paper fasteners to join the arms to the body.
The animation ( Above ) shows the component parts.
A thread attached to the top end of the shoulder beyond the punched hole will operate the arm when pulled down.
( experiment )

You may need to stiffen the card with a thin stick by gluing or taping it up the leg up to the top of the head. Make sure the stick does not restrict the arm movement or cover up the holes that you may have cut out for the eyes . You now have a basic puppet with a moving arm.
Now You need a screen. Use white or pale coloured plain material , A calico or cotton cloth is usual. Stretch it by either pinning it on a frame or stretched across the space with cords from the corners.
(experiment)

Now you need a light source. If you stand behind the screen to operate the puppets you have to avoid your shadow from blocking the puppet's shadow by placing the spot light or angle poise light above your head and pointed at the screen. Place the puppet flat on the screen and move it. and that is essentially it. Play with the positioning, focus and strength of the light.
( experiment )

Now write a stunning play make exciting characters and scenery , compose an original sound track and instantly develop an ability to speak in many distinct voices with ease and wit . manipulate the puppets with exquisite precision and your away.
( experiment )

Some refinements: Use theatre lighting gel / acetate or coloured cellophane to add colour to puppets by cutting "windows" into the card and gluing it on . Use straws or tubes or wire loops to run operating threads through so keeping them out of sight. You can use elastic bands to assist the return function on moving parts.
( experiment )

Tip the screen slightly forward from the top. This "lean " will add friction to the operating and also help keep your own shadow out of the picture. Have "wings" to facilitate ons and offs.and a "head board" to help keep the light spill out of the audience's eyes. Below the screen should be blocked off to hide the puppeteers legs.
The closer the puppets are to the screen the sharper and clearer the image will be. The further the light is away from the back of the screen the more in focus puppets will be , even if they are held off from the screen a bit. The brighter the light, less diffuse and the further away you can get it, the more 3D objects can focus. Shadows of people, hands and combinations with 3D objects, mirrors, lights and reflective surfaces can work well as low tech effects. Even bent wire profiles can be used to mediocre effect. Try projections and film too.
( experiment )

Feel free to ignore the above and use a patterned screen with your knees showing or tear the puppets from a corrugated cardboard box, it"s cheap enough to experiment with. Save money , then go to Bali and watch the professionals at work for ten hours at a time in a meditative trance.
( experiment )

Small World Theatre	Small World Centre	What's On West Wales	Intergenerational	Allotmemt

		WWW		http://www.rhandir.org

Small World Theatre, Canolfan Byd Bychan, Bath House Road, Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales, SA43 1JY

Tel: 01239 615952 Fax :01239 615835

e mail info@smallworld.org.uk