All three puppeteers are visible although shrouded in black. Of the three operators, the master operates the head and right hand, the key expressive areas of the puppet. Modern puppet heads include eyebrows, eyes and jaws which can be moved to portray feelings but require dexterity and coordination. The assistant works the left hand and the apprentice works the legs. The whole, moving in synchronicity, is truly a marvel of engineering and theatre.
Props are minimal so that the entire focus is on the puppets themselves.
This is not children s theatre, but rather theatre for adults, sometimes dramatic, sometimes moving, but always an experience. Bunraku puppetry is the oldest of all Japanese theatre styles and possibly one of the most misunderstood. To describe it as simply puppetry fails to encompass the complexity of the stories and the artistry of the puppeteers. Inc. PageWise makes no representations about the content published on this site. PageWise hereby disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to this information, and user agrees that all such use is at its own risk.