Puppet on a String: Paradigms, Processes and Practices of The Finger Players

Abstract

Puppets have been used in theatrical performance around the world and throughout theatrical history. However, in Singapore The Finger Players are the only company who consistently employ puppets and objects as part of their artistic aesthetic. The aim of this thesis is to study the performances and the theatre-making process of The Finger Players in order to understanding the influence and significance of the use of puppets in contemporary theatre. It examines the concurrence of performing objects and human actors in their oeuvre. It analyses the meaning conveyed and the impact achieved when puppets and actors share the stage by studying the design, movement, and acting of the puppet and actors and assessing ?what happens?, perceptually and experientially, when we see this kind of performance. This research proposes to rigorously analyse their past and present performances using a combination of process oriented, product oriented and event oriented analysis.