In different times, Puppetry developed further in different parts of the world and from the traditional puppet-shows of the rural areas, to puppet theatres, today puppets have reached large audience even through television. Puppet Theater performs many cycles of plays from mythical origins, legendary origins to contemporary events. However in recent times it appears puppet theatre around the world has become a fashionable entertainment and puppet shows are presented in contemporary fashions. Puppetry in transcribed forms is now seen by millions around the world but the essence of puppetry lie in preserving ancient art form too.
TYPES OF PUPPETS
Different types of puppets are used in the puppetry shows There are mainly four types of puppets –Glove-puppet, Rod puppet, Shadow puppet, String puppets(or marionettes) etc.
The string puppets of India have hands but no legs. The other name which describes the string puppets are marionettes which originated in medieval France are type of puppets moved by strings attached to their hands and legs.
Marionette or string puppet puppets are controlled by a number of strings, plus sometimes a central rod attached to a control bar held from above by a puppeteer. The control bar can be either a horizontal or vertical one. Basic strings of operation are usually attached to the head, back, hand and just above the knee. This form of puppetry is complex to operate, requiring greater manipulative control than a finger or rod puppet.
Rod Puppet is a puppet constructed around central rod secured to the head. A large glove covers the rod and is attached to the neck of the puppet. A rod puppet is controlled by the puppeteer moving the metal rods attached to the hands of the puppet and by turning the central rod secured by the head.
Shadow Puppet is a cut-out figure held between a source of light and a translucent screen. Untypical as it is two dimensional in form; shadow puppets can form solid silhouettes.
Hand or Glove Puppets are controlled by one hand which occupies the interior of the puppet. Punch and Jody puppets are familiar examples of glove puppets. Larger varieties of hand puppets place the puppeteer's hand in just the puppets head, controlling the mouth and head, and the puppets body then hands over the entire arm. Other parts of the puppet are usually not much larger than the hand itself. A sock puppet is a particularly simple type of hand puppet made from a sock.
Besides these four main kinds of puppets , the Black Light Puppet, Banraku Puppet, Finger puppet, Human-arm puppet, Light Curtain Puppet, Marotte puppet, Muppet, Water Puppet , Push-in or paper puppet are some other puppets that later developed in different countries.
