Czech Marionette Theatre is a UNESCO recognized art form and an icon of Czech culture and history. Marionette performances are found everywhere from world renowned theatres to the everyday streets of Prague. With their iconic stories and characters, Czech Puppet theatre is known around the globe, influencing cultures across continents. This story seeks to understand the beauty and significance of Czech Marionette Theatre by following the life of marionettes from production to performance.
A store worker at Czech Marionettes in Prague, Czech Republic plays with a puppet version of Jimmy Hendrix at the front of the store.
Petr Puppeteer, the owner of Czech Marionettes in Prague inspecting some of the many puppets sold at the shop in Prague 1, Czechia.
A work station at the Czech Marionettes store.
A puppetmaker in the back workshop of the Czech Marionette store puts the finishing touches on a custom puppet.
The pieces of a marionette awaiting to be assembled in the workshop of Czech Marionettes. Many of the puppets made in the workshop behind the store front are 3D printed and hand painted and assembled.
Daniel Synak is a French-Polish citizen with a passion for puppets and puppet theatre, who came to Prague to learn how to make marionettes and surround himself with the world class art form found in the city.
A custom pet marionette design.
Master marionette maker Martin Růžička in front of his studio.
Martin Růžička still makes Czech marionettes the traditional way in his studio, by hand with wood. Some of this products are sold at the Czech Marionette store.
Some of the many puppets Martin has carved hanging on one of the walls of his studio, a mix of traditional and non-traditional Czech characters and charicatures.
Martin hand-carving a piece of what will become a Czech marionette.
Martin with one of his handmade marionettes.
Travellers gaze at a plaque that hangs outside of the National Marionette Theatre in Prague. A UNESCO recognized artform in Czechia and Slovakia, marionette theatre is deeply engrained in Czech culture and history.
Jiri Krasa is a manager and performer at the Divadlo Jiskra in Prague 8, a puppet theatre for children. Jiri, states that he had been working at the theatre for 42 years, since he was 8 years old. Czechia.
A young puppeteer practicing with one of the marionettes before a show at Divadlo Jiskra.
Performers at Divadlo Jiskra practice their lines before a marionette performance for children put on every Tuesday.
Performers at Divadlo Jiskra taking their places for the show. Czechia.
Puppeteers working with the marionettes during a Tueaday show for children.
Jiri and others voice characters and managae the performace from beneath the stage.
Marionettes during a stage performance. Prague, Czechia.