"Puppets Around the World" series
Feb 25 - Mar 20

Discover stories and puppetry styles from around the globe as we join UNIMA-USA and the Puppeteers of America to celebrate the  World Day of Puppetry on March 21. At Puppet Showplace, this means much more than a single day of celebration- we are showcasing amazing artists and art forms from diverse cultures all over the world during an entire series of performances and workshops for all ages.

From East Asia to Europe, from folktales to family History, our "Puppets Around the World" series features an exciting line-up of stories brought to life by professional puppeteers.  VIEW CALENDAR

Mainstage Performances

For youth and family audiences

Travel across the globe with a NEW SHOW each week! First, discover Yiddish folktales that literally pop out of every drawer and cupboard in Brad Shur's "The Magic Soup and other Stories," then meet the hilarious German puppet hero, Kasper in Sandglass Theater's "Kasper and Fritzi" followed by a gorgeous shadow theater adventure through American history in Puppetkabob's "Under Night Sky." Our Mainstage "Puppets Around the World" series closes with an elegant production by the Red Herring Puppets that blends Western puppetry styles with traditional Japanese art forms in "Little One-Inch."

Puppets At Night Events

For adult audiences (and teens 16+)

For adult audiences, we are thrilled to present Kimi Maeda's multi-media solo performance inspired by the real-life experiences of her late father in a Japanese American relocation camp during WWII, running for TWO NIGHTS ONLY, February 26 & 27 at 8pm. Join us after each performance for a discussion with the artist! The World Puppetry special edition of the bi-monthly Puppet Showplace Slam will feature diverse short form puppetry acts inspired by stories and art forms from around the world on Saturday, March 19 at 8pm. This ONE NIGHT ONLY event features a cash bar with beer.

Workshops

For adults (and teens 16+)

Puppet Showplace is Boston's favorite place to learn puppetry from professional puppeteers! Join us this April for a particularly unique performance and masterclass of Indonesian shadow puppetry and gamelan music with Balinese puppeteer Putu Rekayasa, theater artist Sam Jay Gold, and ethnomusicologist Ian Coss. You can also join our Resident Artist, Brad Shur to learn how to make your own short-form puppetry piece, or create how to create an educational puppetry performance with the Red Herring Puppets.

Celebrate World Puppetry!

Puppetry is a unique and diverse art form with many styles and traditions from around the globe. How will you celebrate the World Day of Puppetry ?! Make your own puppets at home (you can find DIY projects on our Pinterest board, see a performance, or take a class! Make sure to share your stories and photos with us on  Facebook, Twitter (@puppetshowplace), and Instagram!

See you at the theater, puppet fans!