Shadow theatre needs only a light, a screen and a clear shape.
A character can grow, disappear or turn into something new through movement alone. Begin with a short scene you can
rehearse in a few minutes.
FORM STUDY / SHADOWPUPPETSA STUDY IN FORM
Three things to learn
THE ESSENTIAL PRACTICE
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Draw for the outline
A puppet is read first by its outer shape. Give a bird a distinct beak, separate its tail from its body and leave
space between legs where the audience must see them. Small interior details may vanish on the screen, so test a rough
cut before decorating it. Use a material that blocks the light well and attach a control rod where it will interfere
least with the silhouette. For a moving joint, overlap two pieces and use a loose paper fastener. Make a spare joint
before cutting a whole articulated figure. Keep sharp tools on a stable mat and store them safely between cuts.
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Set light and distance
Place a cool-running lamp behind a taut, pale screen and darken the viewing side. A compact light source gives a
clearer edge than a broad glowing panel. A puppet close to the screen makes a smaller, sharper shadow; moving it
toward the lamp makes it larger and often softer. Keep the lamp fixed while you test these distances. The calculator
uses a simple point-light model and similar triangles, so a real lamp may produce a blur around the predicted outline.
Secure cables and leave ventilation around the lamp. Never drape cloth over it or use a hot flame as a stage
light.
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Tell one clear action
A short scene works best when its action is easy to read: a bird finds a seed, a boat meets a wave, or two
travellers exchange a hat. Rehearse the entrance, the pause that lets the audience recognise the character, and the
change that completes the scene. Move with purpose rather than constant motion. A puppet can look at an object by
turning its whole silhouette toward it. Add sound only when it helps the timing. Mark rod positions with tape during
rehearsal and practise the exit as carefully as the entrance. Finish while the central idea is still clear.
THE WORKING DESK
Predict a shadow
Enter the puppet height and the two distances from the lamp. The
screen must be farther from the light than the puppet. The predicted height assumes a small light source and parallel
puppet and screen planes; test the result on your own stage.
KEEP BESIDE YOUR WORK
A few useful notes.
Cut three sizes of the same shape and compare their readability. A bold outline usually beats a tiny
decorative detail.
Place the screen where the audience cannot see the lamp directly. Check the view from the
sides as well as the centre.
Make a scene card with beginning, change and ending. Three drawings are enough to
guide a first performance.
When measuring the lighting setup, use lamp-to-puppet and lamp-to-screen distances
from the same point.