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Video: How to make a puppet stand
Different puppet types require different display/storage systems. A muppet-type puppet, sock or mouth puppet will require a stand - usually a vertical pole or piece of wood, housed in a heavy base. Some puppet makers even use microphone stands for their puppets! In this video, I show you how to make a stand for muppet-type puppets (or sock puppets). The video includes a list of materials and tools. The following will cost you about $15 in materials and take you less than 20 minutes to make.
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Free puppet theatre patterns
(Not to be confused with toy theatre)
Learn more about set design for puppetry, including lots of things to consider when building your sets.
I will be adding to this list as I find more patterns. Please note that these patterns come free courtesy of the credited people; please respect their wishes for creditation (if requested) if you publish the link elsewhere.
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Where to find puppet repairers in Australia?
Unfortunately, I am unaware of people in Australia who specifically offer puppet repair services (no, I do not offer repairs, except on puppets I make and sell). The best advice I can give is for you to contact UNIMA Australia, our country’s representative organisation for puppeteers, and they can pass on a message to their members. Alternatively, check out my list of puppet makers and sellers as someone there may advertise a repair service. But before you do, you’ll want to keep the following in mind:
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How to protect puppets from sweaty hands
Here’s a great topic, and an odd puppet question. Actually, it’s not as strange as it sounds. When working with glove, mouth, or any other puppet where you have your hand inside the materials, you’ll find that it’s not only hard work, but sweaty work. Especially under hot stage lights. So how do you keep your puppet from going moldy?
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How to store your puppets
There’s not really a set of rules to storing your puppets - obviously it depends on your space, your budget, and your puppet. However, the following will help you figure out how best to store yours. Obviously, stuffing your puppet into a bag as in the title image is probably not the best way to go about it!
@Mathieu (aka Creaturiste), Great point and indeed one that I have forgotten to add to the article. Although I have to agree, not something most people would have access to. I know of only one person in Melbourne - not that I've asked around really - who had a plastic-shrinking machine and I suspect it's not that easy to come by here in Oz. It's worth keeping in mind though, as maybe there are local manufacturing workshops who could do it for a fee. I know many hardware stores here offer services like cutting wood or metal to size, so maybe shrink tubing is a service they also offer. Thanks for reading and commenting! (I do always enjoy reading your posts on Puptcrit, but haven't been able to keep up with them over the last year. Hope to get back to the discussion list soon)
... School of Puppetry on How to protect puppets from sweaty hands