It takes a great deal of time and skill to create
the marionettes and staging used in this production. Building a single
marionette can take a month of work! As you will see there is much to
be done before a story comes to life on the puppet stage.
1) The show begins with the idea and a story. The story must be adapted
to fit the puppet stage not only in
terms of how long it is, but so the puppeteers can manage all of the characters
and scene changes that must take place.
2) Once the story is written a list of everything needed is made; everything
from the number of characters to the number of props and scenery needed
to what music and voices will portray the characters and tell the story.
3) Building the marionettes begins. Heads are meticulously sculpted, molded
and painted. Bodies are carved, costumes designed and tailored, and finally
the pieces are put together and the strings are attached.
4) Actors are chosen to read the words of the various characters. Music
is written to accompany the songs or action. Rehearsals and recording
sessions are scheduled to record the voices and music, sound effects are
added and the result is all of the sound you hear during the show.
5) Props are built and the scenery is designed. The process begins with
pencil sketches that soon become large paintings, houses, rocks or buckets.
Anything used on stage or as a background must be designed, built and
painted. Props are often especially fun; how do you represent a fire without
using any? How does a marionette pick up an object and hold it? There
are always issues that must be thought about and figured out.
6) When all of the elements are ready rehearsals begin. The puppeteers
practice moving the marionettes around on stage, not only so they don’t
bump into each other, but so they can tell the story in an interesting
way.
7) During the rehearsal period, the lighting designer positions and aims
the lights and determines when any special effects (such as smoke or black
lights) will be used.
8) The show is now ready to be performed. Even though it takes only a
couple minutes to describe the process, it takes up to two years to complete
a show from beginning to end.
