Looking Back at Puppet Notebook Issue 6 – Calling Out Around the World
From training puppeteers to using puppetry for education and social change, this issue explores how puppets connect people across cultures.
Calling Out Around the World: A Look Back at Puppet Notebook Issue 6
Issue 6 of Puppet Notebook embraces a truly international perspective, exploring the ways puppetry is used not only as an art form but as a tool for education, transformation, and social awareness. Titled Calling Out Around the World, this edition highlights puppetry’s role in training performers, fostering understanding, and tackling real-world issues.
With 28 pages and 50 black-and-white illustrations, this issue is filled with insightful articles covering everything from puppetry in healthcare to avant-garde performance.
Global Perspectives on Puppetry
The issue opens with Maiju Tawast’s piece on Finland in transformation, examining how puppetry reflects and responds to societal shifts. Puppets, as ever, are not just performers—they are storytellers of cultural change.
A major feature comes from Eleanor Margolies, who provides a detailed overview of the Handspring Puppet Company from South Africa. Known internationally for their groundbreaking work on War Horse, Handspring continues to push the boundaries of puppetry, blending technical innovation with deep emotional storytelling.
Meanwhile, Penny Saunders’ article Horsing About takes a closer look at the experimental world of Forkbeard Fantasy, a company known for its surreal and multimedia-infused puppetry.
Puppetry for Education and Social Awareness
One of the most powerful aspects of puppetry is its ability to engage audiences in health and education initiatives.
In this issue, Thomas Riccio explores the use of puppets in health awareness programmes in Kenya. Puppetry has long been a powerful communication tool, and in this context, it is being used to address critical health challenges in engaging and accessible ways.
Alongside this, Tony Mboyo discusses Classroom Ethics, offering insights into how puppets can be used to foster discussions on morality, decision-making, and social responsibility in educational settings.
News, Reviews, and International Diary Updates
As always, Puppet Notebook keeps readers informed with its news and reviews sections, covering the latest books, performances, and developments in the world of puppetry.
The British and International Diary section rounds out the issue, offering a guide to upcoming festivals, exhibitions, and workshops, ensuring that puppetry enthusiasts stay connected with events both at home and abroad.
Issue 6: Puppetry as a Universal Language
With its focus on training, education, and global engagement, Puppet Notebook Issue 6 demonstrates how puppetry is far more than just entertainment—it is a powerful tool for change.
Through storytelling, performance, and creative expression, puppets continue to call out across the world, bridging cultures, sparking conversations, and making complex ideas accessible to all.