Looking Back at Puppet Notebook Issue 5 – Puppetry at the Crossroads of Art
From Dada influences to object theatre, explore how puppetry bridges the visual and performing arts in this richly illustrated issue.
Exploring the Artistic Crossroads of Puppetry: A Look Back at Puppet Notebook Issue 5
Issue 5 of Puppet Notebook takes a deep dive into puppetry’s place at the intersection of the visual and performing arts. From traditional forms to avant-garde experiments, this issue showcases the breadth of puppetry’s artistic influence, exploring how it connects with movements such as Dada, contemporary object theatre, and ritual performance.
With 28 pages and 44 black-and-white illustrations, this issue is packed with global perspectives, historical insights, and thought-provoking reviews.
Puppetry and the Visual Arts: Paul Brann and the Dada Movement
A highlight of this edition is Mischa Twitchin’s fascinating review of the impact of Paul Brann and the Munich Artists’ Marionette Theater on visual artists during the Dada movement. This article sheds light on how puppetry played a role in shaping early 20th-century avant-garde art, challenging traditional aesthetics and performance conventions.
Adding to the Munich connection, Geoff Felix takes us inside the world’s largest puppet collection, housed at the Munich City Museum. Founded by Ludwig Kraft in 1940, this museum offers a remarkable glimpse into puppetry’s artistic evolution.
Puppetry Across Borders: Lahore and Rajasthan
The international scope of puppetry continues with Juliet Middleton of Movingstage Marionettes, who writes about their company’s journey to Lahore, India. This piece provides an insightful reflection on cross-cultural puppetry collaborations and performances.
Meanwhile, Poh Sim Plowright returns with her second article on Rajasthani puppet theatre, this time focusing on the function of ritual within these performances. Her research delves into how puppetry serves both sacred and social roles in traditional Indian theatre.
Music, Object Theatre, and Puppetry on Stage
In a striking blend of music and puppetry, Eleanor Margolies reviews Schubert’s Song Cycle, brought to life by Thomas Guthrie through animated visual storytelling. This article highlights how puppetry can add new layers of meaning to classical music performances.
On the contemporary end, Natalie Naraine shares her experience working in object theatre with Gavin Skerritt at Stratford Circus. This piece explores the expressive possibilities of everyday objects in storytelling, demonstrating puppetry’s ability to transform the mundane into the magical.
Reviews, News, and International Diary Updates
Issue 5 also includes a review by Matthew Cohen of Eileen Blumenthal’s Puppets and Puppetry**, a must-read for those interested in the history and artistry of the craft.
As always, the issue is rounded out with the latest news, festival reports, workshops, exhibitions, and museum updates from around the world, ensuring readers stay connected to the ever-evolving world of puppetry.
Issue 5: A Celebration of Puppetry’s Artistic Influence
With its compelling mix of historical analysis, global perspectives, and cutting-edge performance reviews, Puppet Notebook Issue 5 is an essential read for anyone interested in puppetry’s role as both a visual and theatrical art form.
Dive into this edition to discover how puppetry continues to inspire, innovate, and blur the boundaries between tradition and experimentation.