Puppets allow us to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviours from a comfortable distance. They offer a unique perspective into what drives us and others, and through it, the gift of greater awareness. Puppets encourage interaction. Their oddness and charm are hard to resist, and through collaborative group activities puppets allow us to localise, explore and challenge issues in ways that are poignant and meaningful.

Puppets empower and give us a voice. They deflect attention so that even shy personalities can readily participate. Through our partners we have heard many stories about how children and young people will eagerly express things ‘behind’ a puppet that they wouldn’t normally have the courage to talk about, be that abuse, sadness, or pooping in the bush. Puppets allow us to be someone else, liberating us in a moment and creating deeper understanding of our own stories and behaviours as well as other people’s.

We give children puppets and they become puppeteers. They don’t have to be skilled puppeteers – what’s important is what’s going on in their imagination as they get lost in the process of playing together in activities catalysed by the No Strings film they have watched, and its messages and characters.

Puppetry is a diverse art form, and we use different types, from our big mouth characters (which we have made locally) to shadow puppetry, tabletop puppets made from newspaper and rubber bands, and models that come alive in the imagination. Each have their different strengths and appeals. Some are better suited to older children, adolescents, or adults. Materials must be locally available, inexpensive or, where possible, free.

Scroll down for more on our different puppetry styles.