An introduction to making your own shadow puppet theatre, using a light source and an object.
I have had a fascination with shadows since I was a young child, a time when myself and my siblings spent hours playing with shadows during the long winter evenings.
Shadow Puppetry is said to have originated in China over 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty.
Shadow puppetry or shadow theatre is an expressive tool that encourages participants of all ages to share their our story in a fun, entertaining and safe way. Participants can develop the shadow work from behind a white screen – this is where the fun and the reluctant participant can be encouraged to become involved and share their story.
To distinguish between the two titles:
– shadow puppetry is where items (like cardboard) are used to make puppets or props for shadow development.
– shadow theatre is where a person’s body (or part off, for example a hand) is used to make the shadow story
I will share examples of both shadow puppetry and shadow theatre works. I will also explain how I simply set up a shadow screen in 3 different situations.
Basic material required:
A lamp, lightweight fabric or greaseproof / parchment paper
Card (recycled), sticky tape, wooden skewers, scissors, craft knife.
If sound is included it could be participant voice, a narrator, foley sound or music. Keep in mind that a silent shadow work can be very effective also, allowing the viewed to interpret the story as they wish.
Note 1: Test your lamps and cloth / shower curtain (plain white) or parchment paper in advance to see the density of shadow each one creates. Different light sources and different cloth will give different density of shadow.
Note 2: scroll to the very end of this post to view puppet samples.
Type of lamps I have used:
Lamps used as light source to make shadows
Overhead projector as light source
Types of setup, see images below:
1. Small shadow theatre – using a cardboard box or an empty old picture frame as a table top screen
2. Medium shadow theatre – using a cloth on a clothes line or on a portable clothes rail.
3. Large scale theatre – using a stage setting or theatre space and cloth to make a screen.
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Sample 1 – small theatre. Images of cardboard box theatre and an empty picture frame theatre.
Shadow theatre made from a cardboard box
Rear view of cardboard box theatre, with lamp.
Picture frame adapted for shadow theatre, cotton stapled to the back of frame.
Back of screen, with staples.
Front view of shadow theatre performance using the picture frame/ table top format. Photo: Gráinne Deery
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Sample 2 – medium sized theatre.
This is made by using a clothesline effect or to use a portable clothes hanging rail, to display a large cloth from. This cloth then becomes the screen.
Exploring and testing the shadow process, using the old overhead projector screen. Photo: Laura Thornton
Shadow work set up using an old overhead projector.
Ready for the show to take place. Five groups of four children taking part, each with a different chosen theme. Three children sat in under the table, with the white cotton cloth, their arms and puppets extended to catch the light, producing shadow. A forth child operated another puppet and moved the stage set pieces around on the platen of the projector. The projector gives a mirror image shadow and magnifies it. Ideal scale for a class room setting and also an interesting concept in looking into the mechanics of the projector to see and understand the science elements.
7 minute video of the final performance, view below. Twenty three 6th Class pupils from Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich Maynooth, supported by their teacher Ms Harte, developed and produced this video in Maynooth University. All of the puppets, stage set, script, foley art as well as the video recording was all the excellent creative work of the pupils. Can you identify their chosen themes?
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Sample 3 – Large scale theatre – using a stage setting or theatre space and cloth to make a screen.
This sample shown is about 5 metres square and allowed for all the participants including the light to be ‘inside’ the temporary theatre space, including stage set and audio operators.
Large scale shadow theatre setting.
See video below, duration 11 minutes 45 seconds. Title: CORE II is an integrated arts project with Froebel B.Ed.,Year 3 Students, Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University.
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Puppet samples.
You can see from the image below that the wooden skewer fitted to the ghost on the left has restricted movement whereas the skewer fitted to the apple on the right had more flexibility of movement. The masking tape is secured like a hinge. Recycled card is fine for making the puppets as the text will not be visible.
Puppets, securing the arm / support.
As you can see from the image of the bicycle below is is not necessary to have all of the detail included in your puppet. Both puppets worked just fine.
Bicycle
Different bicycle
Enjoy making your puppets and your shadow theatre, is it such fun.