April 8, 2024 | Theatre,

Puppetry at ArtsEmerson

ArtsEmerson is no stranger to welcoming larger-than-life puppets to our stages and the 23/24 Season has been no exception! This year, we’ve seen the 12-foot puppet of Little Amal walk across Boston, a fully-scaled puppet of the infamous Great White Whale take center stage in Moby Dick, and we are anxiously anticipating the arrival of Book of Mountains and Seas, which will feature massive puppets helmed by award-winning puppeteer Basil Twist. Outside of this current season, we’ve seen plenty of puppet-centered shows, let’s take a look at some of the memorable puppets who have dazzled audiences across the years:

Petrushka – 2010

Basil Twist first introduced Boston audiences to his impressive puppetry work in ArtsEmerson’s inaugural season with his modern retelling of the legendary Ballets Russes production. Set to Stravinsky’s classic score, 9 hidden puppeteers worked together to create a true tour de force of music, movement, design and storytelling.

69° S (The Shackleton Project) – 2012

Phantom Limb’s 69˚S wowed audiences in 2012 with their use of life-sized puppets who beautifully performed choreographed movement pieces against a haunting score by Kronos Quartet and Skeleton Key. The puppets, who walk, dance, and interact with each other throughout the show, tell the story of explorer Ernest Shackleton’s intense journey from Europe to the Antarctic. 

Sleeping Beauty – 2013

World-renowned Italian puppetry company Colla Marionette used dozens of marionette puppets to create a whimsical and beautiful retelling of the beloved classic of Sleeping Beauty, using Tchaikovsky’s score and intricately involved puppet technique to breathe new life into the story, exciting theater-goers of all ages.

ADA/AVA – 2018

Chicago-based Manual Cinema introduced a new type of puppetry in ArtsEmerson audiences in 2018 – shadow puppetry. In addition to shadow puppetry, ADA/AVA utilized various special effect techniques from the early age of cinema, like live-action silhouettes, overhead projection, and a live score, to create a true multimedia masterpiece.

Frankenstein – 2023

Manual Cinema returned in February 2023 for a sold-out production of Frankenstein. Using more than 500 handmade puppets, old school projectors, as well as live actors and cinematic elements, the Emmy-award winning troupe created an explosive, layered interpretation of the classic horror novel which truly amazed audiences for the entirety of it’s run.

Experience the mastery of puppet theater yourself during the upcoming production of Book of Mountains and Seas playing at the Emerson Paramount Center from April 19-21. This is a must-see show and tickets are selling quickly, so be sure to secure your seats today online, over the phone, or in person at our box office. We will see at the theater soon!