In many countries of the world marionettes are a major part of their culture and have been for hundreds of years.Here at Kallini Puppets we love marionettes and are preparing a new range of string puppets in various sizes and types including human and animal, with most puppets able to perform tricks or play an instrument. As each of the marionettes are completed we will video the performance on our puppet stage so you will be able to see all our marionettes in action. Any props that are used in their performance will be made available for purchase separately if desired.

Our range will include simple 10 inch marionettes for the beginner, 22 inch marionettes suitable for halls, small theatres, buskers and street performers and 32 inch marionettes which will be ideal for larger theatres.

All our marionettes are hand made in our puppet workshop from a combination of wood, fibreglass, foam and fabric. The heads are sculpted to a high level of detail and moulded in silicone. All sixteen parts are cast in a light weight resin which makes them easier to perform with than if they were made completely from wood. All the puppets upon completion are correctly weighted to enable the puppet to move and perform perfectly.

During 2012 we are preparing a complete marionette show which is a full 30 minutes long and is based on a circus theme. Puppets will include clowns, a seal performing with a ball, a lion and trainer, ringmaster, unicyclist and stiltwalker. If you are interested in this show or marionettes in general and you would like more information please contact us and we will be happy to help, or if you have any comments please use the comments page. 2012 is going to be a great year for new puppet ideas and we will post regular updates as these new marionettes become available.

                    Yours in Puppetry

                              oliver

You would think that after forty years earning a living from performing and making puppets that the novelty would have worn off by now, but amazingly it hasn’t. I feel more motivated and passionate about puppetry than ever before. My head is buzzing with new puppetry ideas, new techniques, many of which I hope to have fully working, online and for sale during 2012.

I remember the thrill of receiving my very first puppet on my seventh birthday. It was an Archie Andrews ventriloquist dummy, (showing my age now) which in those days was readily available in local toy and novelty shops. He can still sometimes be found today on Ebay and can fetch a fair amount despite him being only fifteen inches tall and with basic mouth movement. This puppet was to set the course for the rest of my life and I only wish that other youngsters could find something they love, that would enable them to spend their lives doing something that they really want to do. However, I feel the world has changed and it may not be possible any longer to have just one job for life.

One of the great new puppet ideas for 2012 is a ventriloquist dummy character loosely based on a Chinese wise man (you heard it here first) who speaks only in funny proverbs. We intend calling him Confoosus.He will have moving eyebrows and moving moustache and will come sitting cross legged wearing beautiful Chinese robes. Anyone interested in this new dummy can contact us for more details. His head is being sculpted now and he should be ready to purchase during 2012.The comic possibilities for this great new character are endless and we are sure he will be hugely popular. If any of our readers know any funny proverbs that could be used as part of a comedy routine then we would be delighted to hear them.

May I take this opportunity to wish all puppet fans a very happy New Year.

                                  Oliver